title: Self-induced nonlinear spin-orbit interaction of light in liquid crystals.
abstract: We report on the observation of self-induced nonlinear spin-orbit interaction of light driven by Kerr orientational optical nonlinearities in liquid crystals. It consists of the self-induced spin-to-orbital nonlinear conversion for the angular momentum of light. The optical angular momentum conversion is driven by the creation of a topological liquid crystal defect by the light itself. Moreover, we show that such a nonlinear process can be significantly enhanced by using additional electric fields.
authors.affiliation: Université Bordeaux, Laboratoire Ondes et Matière d’Aquitaine (LOMA), UMR 5798, Talence, France.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Ketara
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brasselet