Generation of diffraction-free plasmonic beams with one-dimensional Bessel profiles

We demonstrate experimentally generation of diffraction-free plasmonic beams with zeroth- and first-order Bessel intensity profiles using axicon-like structures fabricated on gold film surfaces and designed to operate at a wavelength of 700 nm. The central beam features a very low divergence (similar to 8 pi mrad) for a narrow waist of the order of one wavelength and the ability to self reconstruct, which are the main signatures of diffraction-free beams. (C) 2013 Optical Society of America