Tunneling of Optical Beams through Inhomogeneity of a Refractive Index

Abstract

We consider the effect of tunneling of optical beams through a narrow induced inhomogeneity in a refractive index. It is shown that under the condition of total internal reflection from the induced channel, part of the signal beam leaks if the channel is narrow. Dependence of the pump beam width at which the tunneling of half signal power occurs is found as a function of the pump intensity and the angle of beam crossing.