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arXiv · 2603.10831

Photonic nanojets as emergent free-space power flux funnels

Mirza Karamehmedović·Cristian Placinta·Tobias Abilock Mikkelsen·Jesper Glückstad
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Abstract

A reduced local field model derived from full-wave electromagnetic simulations shows that photonic nanojet formation corresponds to an emergent mesoscopic funnel of propagating power flux sustained by an effective free-space transverse mode structure. This interpretation moves beyond purely geometric-optics or interference-based explanations by identifying a self-consistent redistribution of phase gradients and effective longitudinal wavenumber near the nanojet waist. The model quantitatively captures characteristic nanojet morphology, including the formation and local structure of the jet waist. It also yields a geometry-independent lower bound on the nanojet waist, linking transverse confinement to the effective axial wavenumber through an explicit trade-off. The model establishes a direct connection between full-wave Maxwell fields and a reduced free-space oscillator description, yielding new physical insight into nanojet confinement and suggesting design principles for nanojet-assisted imaging, lithography, and subwavelength field localization.

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Mirza Karamehmedović, Cristian Placinta, Tobias Abilock Mikkelsen, Jesper Glückstad. 2026-03-11. Photonic nanojets as emergent free-space power flux funnels. https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.10831

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