Optical propagation in nematic liquid crystals is characterized by a large and highly-nonlocal Kerr-like nonlinearity. We investigate the fundamental role played by spatial nonlocality in nonlinear optical propagation, and develop a model able to predict the main features of spatial solitons and modulational instability in nematic liquid crystals. The model unifies solitons in physical systems exhibiting different degrees of nonlocality, disclosing a connection between nonlocal solitons and parametric solitons in quadratic media. Finally, soliton breathing as well as other characteristics of nonlocal propagation are experimentally demonstrated in a specifically-engineered liquid crystal cell.
Peccianti, M., Conti, C., Assanto, G. (2003). Nonlocal optical propagation in nonlinear nematic liquid crystals RID F-7127-2011. JOURNAL OF NONLINEAR OPTICAL PHYSICS AND MATERIALS, 12(4), 525-538 [10.1142/S0218863503001626].
Nonlocal optical propagation in nonlinear nematic liquid crystals RID F-7127-2011
ASSANTO, GAETANO
2003-01-01
Abstract
Optical propagation in nematic liquid crystals is characterized by a large and highly-nonlocal Kerr-like nonlinearity. We investigate the fundamental role played by spatial nonlocality in nonlinear optical propagation, and develop a model able to predict the main features of spatial solitons and modulational instability in nematic liquid crystals. The model unifies solitons in physical systems exhibiting different degrees of nonlocality, disclosing a connection between nonlocal solitons and parametric solitons in quadratic media. Finally, soliton breathing as well as other characteristics of nonlocal propagation are experimentally demonstrated in a specifically-engineered liquid crystal cell.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.