Abstract

Focusing a laser beam on the front plane of an electrically biased photorefractive (PR) crystal, screening solitons can be created easily at low laser power. Due to the anisotropic potential of (2D+1) solitons, a wide variety of interaction scenarios between two or more of them can be realized. These interactions include fusion, creation, annihilation, rotation and mutual spiraling. Their capability of guiding other light waves combined with the ease of their achievement and control of different interactions makes them suitable for adaptive waveguide applications. Examples are all-optical switches, waveguide interconnects and tools for all-optical logic operations.

© 2000 IEEE