Self-organization of light in optical media with competing nonlinearities

Maucher, F; Pohl, T; Skupin, S; Krolikowski, W

Abstract

We study the propagation of light beams through optical media with competing nonlocal nonlinearities. We demonstrate that the nonlocality of competing focusing and defocusing nonlinearities gives rise to self-organization and stationary states with stable hexagonal intensity patterns, akin to transverse crystals of light filaments. Signatures of this long-range ordering are shown to be observable in the propagation of light in optical waveguides and even in free space. We consider a specific form of the nonlinear response that arises in atomic vapor upon proper light coupling. Yet, the general phenomenon of self-organization is a generic consequence of competing nonlocal nonlinearities, and may, hence, also be observed in other settings.

Citation

Maucher, F., Pohl, T., Skupin, S., & Krolikowski, W. (2016). Self-organization of light in optical media with competing nonlinearities. Physical Review Letters, 116(16), Article 163902. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.116.163902

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 30, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Apr 21, 2016
• Publication Date: Apr 21, 2016
• Deposit Date: Mar 30, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 27, 2016
• Journal: Physical Review Letters
• Print ISSN: 0031-9007
• Electronic ISSN: 1079-7114
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 116
• Issue: 16
• Article Number: 163902
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.116.163902
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1388120