Observation of dipole-mode vector solitons
We report on the first experimental observation of a novel type of optical vector soliton, a dipole-mode soliton, recently predicted theoretically. We show that these vector solitons can be generated in a photorefractive medium employing two different processes: a phase imprinting, and a symmetry-breaking instability of a vortex-mode vector soliton. The experimental results display remarkable agreement with the theory, and confirm the robust nature of these radially asymmetric two-component solitary waves.
Krolikowski
W
Laser Physics Centre, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia.
Ostrovskaya
EA
Weilnau
C
Geisser
M
McCarthy
G
Kivshar
YS
Denz
C
Luther-Davies
B