In this paper we demonstrate that spiral fields generate nondiffracting dark beams. A collimated laser beam incident on a compact disc, i.e., a commercial CD, was used as mask for the generation of spiral fields. We study theoretically and experimentally the intensity distribution near the axis of the optical system.

• Received 16 December 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.67.036619