Creation of Localized Optical Waves that Do Not Obey the Radiation Condition at Infinity

Abstract

We show that the diffraction of a shocking optical pulse formed in a nonlinear transparent dielectric creates an optical missile, or localized radiation field whose amplitude and energy decays are slower than $1/R$ and ${1/R}^2$, respectively, far from the aperture. Dispersion does not eliminate, but limits missile behavior to a finite range. Experimental techniques for optical missile generation are suggested.