Autofocusing Self-Imaging: The Symmetric Pearcey Talbot-like Effect

The Talbot like effect of symmetric Pearcey beams (SPBs) is presented numerically and experimentally in the free space. Owing to the Talbot like effect, the SPBs have the property of periodic and multiple autofocusing. Meanwhile, the focal positions and focal times of SPBs are controlled by the beam shift factor and the distribution factors. What is more, the beam shift factor can also affect the Talbot-like effect and the Talbot period. Therefore, several tiny optical bottles can be generated under the appropriate parameter setting. It is believed that the results can diversify the application of the Talbot effect.