In this paper we use a unidirectional decomposition capable of furnishing localized wave pulses, with luminal and superluminal peak velocities, in exact form and totally free of backward components, which have been a chronic problem for such wave solutions. This decomposition is powerful enough for yielding not only ideal nondiffracting pulses but also their finite energy versions still in exact analytical closed form, avoiding the need for time-consuming numerical simulations. Another advantage of the present approach is that, since the backward spectral components are absent, the frequency spectra of the pulses do not need to possess ultrawidebands, as it is required by the usual localized wave (LW) solutions obtained by other methods. Finally, the present results bring the LW theory nearer to the real experimental possibilities of usual laboratories.

• Received 2 September 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.79.013816