Electromagnetic Wave Propagation in Radially and Axially Nonuniform Media: Geometrical-Optics Approximation

Abstract

This paper presents an investigation of the propagation of a cylindrically symmetrical beam in radially and axially nonuniform media, when the dielectric constant ∊ is given by ∊ = ∊0−∊2(z)r2. A differential equation for the dimensionless beam-width parameter has been set up in the geometrical-optics approximation and solved for some specific dependences of ∊2 on z. The relevance of this investigation to self-focusing fibers or rods is discussed.