title: Collapse of optical vortices.
abstract: We theoretically and experimentally investigate the self-focusing of optical vortices in Kerr media. We observe collapse to a distinct self-similar profile, which becomes unstable to azimuthal perturbations. We analyze the azimuthal modulational instability for ring-shaped vortices and predict the number of azimuthal maxima solely as a function of power and topological charge. In our experiments, the observed multiple-filamentation patterns are in excellent agreement with our theoretical analysis.
authors.affiliation: School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Luat T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Vuong
authors.forename: Taylor D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Grow
authors.forename: Amiel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishaaya
authors.forename: Alexander L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gaeta
authors.forename: Gert W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: 't Hooft
authors.forename: Eric R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Eliel
authors.forename: Gadi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fibich