title: Soliton generation by counteracting gain-guiding and self-bending.
abstract: We introduce a concept for stable spatial soliton formation, mediated by the competition between self-bending induced by a strongly asymmetric nonlocal nonlinearity and spatially localized gain superimposed on a wide pedestal with linear losses. When acting separately both effects seriously prevent stable localization of light, but under suitable conditions they counteract each other, forming robust soliton states that are attractors for a wide range of material and input light conditions.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, and Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain. valery.lobanov@icfo.eu
authors.forename: Valery E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Lobanov
authors.forename: Yaroslav V
authors.initials: YV
authors.lastname: Kartashov
authors.forename: Victor A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Vysloukh
authors.forename: Lluis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Torner