Self-induced mode transformation in nonlocal nonlinear media

Yana V. Izdebskaya*, Anton S. Desyatnikov, Yuri S. Kivshar

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    66 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    We report on the first experimental observation of self-induced optical mode transformations in nonlocal nonlinear media. We show that the quadrupole Hermite-Gaussian mode experiences complex nonlinear dynamics in a nematic liquid crystal, including power-dependent conversion into a radially symmetric Laguerre-Gaussian mode. The physical mechanism responsible for self-induced transformation is the excitation of internal modes of a metastable quadrupole nonlocal soliton and its subsequent transmutation into a robust soliton with a bright peak surrounded by a bright ring. We also observe the onset of transformations of higher-order modes, proving the generic character of this nonlinear phenomenon.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number123902
    JournalPhysical Review Letters
    Volume111
    Issue number12
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 18 Sept 2013

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