title: Bistability between different localized structures in nonlinear optics.
abstract: We report the observation of different localized structures coexisting for the same parameter values in an extended system. The experimental findings are carried out in a nonlinear optical interferometer and are fully confirmed by numerical simulations. The existence of each kind of localized structure is put in relation to a corresponding delocalized pattern observed. A quantitative evaluation of the range of pump parameter allowing bistability between localized structures is given. The phenomenon reported results to be robust in parameter space.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale di Ottica Applicata, Largo E. Fermi 6, I50125 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bortolozzo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pastur
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Ramazza
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tlidi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kozyreff