Novel electromagnetic directed-energy pulse train (EDEPT) solutions of Maxwell’s equations have been obtained. One particular solution, the modified-power-spectrum (MPS) pulse, will be described in detail. EDEPT’s such as the MPS pulses, can be tailored to give localized energy transmission along a specified direction in space that is significantly improved over conventional diffraction-limited beams. Moreover, they represent fields that recover their initial amplitudes along the direction of propagation at extremely large distances from their initial location. These EDEPT solutions are not physically pathological and can be reconstructed from causal Green’s functions. In fact, these fields appear to be launchable from finite-aperture antennas.

• Received 4 April 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.39.2005