PROPAGATION OF LASER BEAMS IN AN ARRAY OF SEMICONDUCTOR CARBON NANOTUBES

Abstract

In this paper, we consider propagation of a monochromatic laser beam in an array of semiconductor carbon nanotubes. Initial distribution of the beam intensity is taken in the form of a Gaussian profile in the plane perpendicular to the wave vector. The electromagnetic field in an array of nanotubes is described by Maxwell equations, reduced to a multidimensional wave equation. With an approximation of the slowly varying amplitudes and phases, we derive the effective equation describing the time-averaged field intensity distribution of the laser beam in a medium. Numerical solution of the derived equations allows us to analyze the dependence of the diffractive spreading of the beam on its frequency and initial amplitude. Furthermore, the influence of the nanotube radius on the diffractive spreading of the laser beam is investigated.