Generation of three-dimensional optical bottle beams via focused non-diffracting Bessel beam using an axicon

In this paper, a new method is proposed to generate self-image three-dimensional (3-D) optical bottle beam (OBB) by focusing non-diffracting Bessel beam using an axicon. The theories of Hankel wave and interference are used to analyze the situation results of the beam after focusing Bessel beam by an axicon, the period of the self-imaged 3-D OBB is calculated. The longitudinal intensity distribution and the cross-sectional intensity distribution of the self-imaged 3-D OBB which contained a series of null intensity points along the propagation axis are numerically studied. Optical system is designed to prove the theoretical simulation. Furthermore, the self-reconstruction property of a self-imaged 3-D OBB is numerically studied and the minimum self-reconstruction distance is determined. The experimental results agree well with the theoretical predictions. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.