Abstract
We show that ballistic transport of optically excited atoms in an atomic vapor provides a nonlocal nonlinearity which stabilizes the propagation of vortex beams and higher order modes in the presence of a self-focusing nonlinearity. Numerical experiments demonstrate stable propagation of higher order nonlinear states (dipole, vortices, and rotating azimuthons) over a hundred diffraction lengths, before dissipation leads to decay of these structures.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 263902 |
Journal | Physical Review Letters |
Volume | 98 |
Issue number | 26 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 29 Jun 2007 |