  In this work, starting by suitable superpositions of equal-frequency Bessel
beams, we develop a theoretical and experimental methodology to obtain
localized stationary wave fields, with high transverse localization, whose
longitudinal intensity pattern can approximately assume any desired shape
within a chosen interval 0 < z < L of the propagation axis z. Their intensity
envelope remains static, i.e. with velocity v=0; so that we have named ``Frozen
Waves" (FW) these new solutions to the wave equations (and, in particular, to
the Maxwell equations). Inside the envelope of a FW only the carrier wave does
propagate: And the longitudinal shape, within the interval 0 < z < L, can be
chosen in such a way that no nonnegligible field exists outside the
pre-determined region (consisting, e.g., in one or more high intensity peaks).
Our solutions are noticeable also for the different and interesting
applications they can have, especially in electromagnetism and acoustics, such
as optical tweezers, atom guides, optical or acoustic bistouries, various
important medical apparata, etc.

Optics;General Physics;Medical Physics