title: Self-organization of spatial solitons.
abstract: We present experimental results on the transverse modulation instability of an elliptical beam propagating in a bulk nonlinear Kerr medium, and the formation and self-organization of spatial solitons. We have observed the emergence of order, self organization and a transition to an unstable state. Order emerges through the formation of spatial solitons in a periodic array. If the initial period of the array is unstable the solitons will tend to self-organize into a larger (more stable) period. Finally the system transitions to a disordered state where most of the solitons disappear and the beam profile becomes unstable to small changes in the input energy.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Centurion
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.forename: Demetri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Psaltis