Abstract

Spatial optical solitons propagate through nonlinear media without spreading, due to a balance between diffraction and nonlinearity. The great majority of work in this area has been based on materials with a spatially isotropic nonlinear response such as Kerr-media, saturable Kerr media, and quadratic nonlinear media. Photorefractive media with an externally applied field provide an example of a strongly anisotropic nonlinear response. Anisotropy leads to novel phenomena and dynamics not seen in isotropic media, and may both enhance or reduce the stability of solitary waves, in comparison to the corresponding isotropic solutions.

© 1998 IEEE