Propagation of Profiled Optical Beams through Kerr Media

The propagation of profiled optical beams through cubically nonlinear Kerr media is investigated, theoretically and numerically. Specifically, propagation through both thin and thick nonlinear media are examined, and the far-field pattern after exit from the nonlinear medium are studied. The profiles investigated are Gaussian and sinctype, the latter obtained from the Fourier transform of a rectangular slit