Virtual source of a Pearcey beam

Abstract

A virtual source that yields a family of a Pearcey wave is demonstrated. A closed-form expression is derived for the Pearcey wave that simplifies to the paraxial Pearcey beam (PB) in the appropriate limit. From the perturbative series representation of a complex-source-point spherical wave, an infinite series nonparaxial correction expression for a PB is obtained. The infinite series expression of a PB can give accuracy up to any order of the diffraction angle. By applying the integral representation of the Pearcey wave, the first three terms in the nonparaxial correction series to the paraxial PB are provided.