A theoretical analysis of a traveling-wave difference-frequency-generation
problem in three-dimensional space was performed. We found that, under a su
itable hypothesis of low conversion efficiency in anisotropic nonlinear cry
stals, the nonlinear interaction gives a diffraction-free propagation condi
tion for particular J(0) Bessel beams and modulation instability phenomena
for other J(0) Bessel beams. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America [S0740-322
4(00)01604-0] OCIS codes: 190.4410, 190.4420.