title: Soliton "molecules": robust clusters of spatiotemporal optical solitons.
abstract: We show how to generate robust self-sustained clusters of soliton bullets-spatiotemporal (optical or matter-wave) solitons. The clusters carry an orbital angular momentum being supported by competing nonlinearities. The "atoms" forming the "molecule" are fully three-dimensional solitons linked via a staircaselike macroscopic phase. Recent progress in generating atomic-molecular coherent mixing in the Bose-Einstein condensates might open potential scenarios for the experimental generation of these soliton molecules with matter waves.
authors.affiliation: Department of Signal Theory and Communications, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, ES 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Lucian-Cornel
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Crasovan
authors.forename: Yaroslav V
authors.initials: YV
authors.lastname: Kartashov
authors.forename: Dumitru
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mihalache
authors.forename: Lluis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Torner
authors.forename: Yuri S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kivshar
authors.forename: Víctor M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Pérez-García