Exact solutions for the electromagnetic fields of a flying focus

Abstract

The intensity peak of a "flying focus" travels at a programmable velocity over many Rayleigh ranges while maintaining a near-constant profile. Assessing the extent to which these features can enhance laser-based applications requires an accurate description of the electromagnetic fields. Here we present exact analytical solutions to Maxwell's equations for the electromagnetic fields of a constant-velocity flying focus, generalized for arbitrary polarization and orbital angular momentum. The approach combines the complex source-point method, which transforms multipole solutions into beam-like solutions, with the Lorentz invariance of Maxwell's equations. Propagating the fields backward in space reveals the space-time profile that an optical assembly must produce to realize these fields in the laboratory. Comparisons with simpler paraxial solutions provide conditions for their reliable use when modeling a flying focus.

References in corpus (3)

• Diffraction-free space-time beams
• Gaussian beams diffracting in time
• Optical Shock-Enhanced Self-Photon Acceleration

Cited by in corpus (10)

• Laser wakefield acceleration of ions with a transverse flying focus
• Signatures of vacuum birefringence in low-power flying focus pulses
• Strong-field vacuum polarisation with high energy lasers
• Relativistic transformations of quasi-monochromatic optical beams
• Charged particle beam transport in a flying focus pulse with orbital angular momentum
• First direct observation of a wakefield generated with structured light
• Enhanced quantum radiation with flying-focus laser pulses
• High-charge relativistic electrons by vacuum laser acceleration from plasma mirrors using flying focus pulses
• Bending space-time wave packets
• Simulation Design for Velocity-Controlled Spatio-Temporal Drivers in Laser Wakefield Acceleration