Propagation of Airy beams in uniaxial crystals orthogonal to the optical axis

Analytical propagation expression of an Airy beam in uniaxial crystals orthogonal to the optical axis is derived. The ballistic dynamics of an Airy beam in uniaxial crystals is also investigated. The Airy beam propagating in uniaxial crystals orthogonal to the optical axis mainly depends on the ratio of the extraordinary refractive index to the ordinary refractive index. As an example, the propagation of an Airy beam in the positive uniaxial crystals orthogonal to the optical axis is demonstrated. The acceleration of an Airy beam in the transversal direction along the optical axis is more rapidly than that in the other transversal direction. With increasing the ratio of the extraordinary refractive index to the ordinary refractive index, the acceleration of the Airy beam in the transversal direction along the optical axis speeds up and the acceleration of the Airy beam in the other transversal direction slows down. The Airy beam propagating in uniaxial crystals orthogonal to the optical axis follows a ballistic trajectory. The effective beam size of the Airy beam in the transversal direction along the optical axis is always larger than that in the other transversal direction. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America