Wigner distribution function of an Airy beam

J Opt Soc Am A Opt Image Sci Vis. 2011 Jun 1;28(6):1307-11. doi: 10.1364/JOSAA.28.001307.

Abstract

We study the Wigner distribution function (WDF) of an Airy beam. The analytical expression of the WDF of an Airy beam is obtained. Numerical and graphical results of the WDF of an Airy beam provide an intuitive picture to explain the intriguing features of an Airy beam, such as weak diffraction, curved propagation, and self-healing. Our results confirm that these novel properties of an Airy beam are attributed to the continuum of sideways contributions to the field.