Nondiffracting narrow light beam with small atmospheric turbulence-influenced propagation

A narrow light beam that propagates in the atmosphere with less disturbance than conventional light beams is introduced. The operating method and feat ures of the newly proposed long-range nondiffracting beam (LRNB) are briefl y demonstrated. Some experimental results of the atmospheric propagation of this beam at a distance of 500 m are shown in comparison with a convention al collimated beam and a focused beam. The results and related analyses sho w that the LRNB is much less influenced by atmospheric turbulence than othe r beams and suggest that the LRNB can apply to many fields. (C) 1999 Optica l Society of America.