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arXiv · 2201.09126

Formation and stability of vortex solitons in nematic liquid crystals

Pawel S. Jung·Yana V. Izdebskaya·Vladlen G. Shvedov·Demetrios N. Christodoulides·Wieslaw Krolikowski
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Abstract

We study the propagation dynamics of bright optical vortex solitons in nematic liquid crystals with a nonlocal reorientational nonlinear response. We investigate the role of optical birefringence on the stability of these solitons. In agreement with recent experimental observations, we show that birefringence-induced astigmatism can eventually destabilize these vortex solitons. However, for low and moderate birefringence, vortex solitons can propagate stably over experimentally relevant distances.

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Pawel S. Jung, Yana V. Izdebskaya, Vladlen G. Shvedov, Demetrios N. Christodoulides, Wieslaw Krolikowski. 2022-01-22. Formation and stability of vortex solitons in nematic liquid crystals. https://doi.org/10.1364/ol.410800

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