title: Observation of a discrete family of dissipative solitons in a nonlinear optical system.
abstract: We report on the observation of a discrete family of spatial dissipative solitons in a simple optical pattern forming system, which is based on a modified single-mirror feedback arrangement. After a pitchfork bifurcation the system possesses two (nearly) equivalent coexisting states of different polarizations. The spatial solitons correspond to excursions from one of the two states serving as a background state towards the other one. The members of the soliton family differ in the number of high-amplitude radial oscillations. The observations are in good agreement with numerical simulations and general expectations for dissipative solitons.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Angewandte Physik, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstrasse 2/4, D-48149 Münster, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pesch
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grosse Westhoff
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ackemann
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lange