Incoherent solitons in strongly nonlocal media: The coherent density theory

We study the properties of one dimension incoherent accessible solitons in strongly nonlocal media with noninstantaneous Kerr nonlinearity. Following the coherent density theory, we obtain an exact solution of such incoherent solitons. The spatial width of the incoherent solitons is related to the incoherent angular power spectrum θ₀ as well as the incident power. The evolution properties of the intensity profile and the coherence characteristics are also discussed in detail when the solitons undergo periodic harmonic oscillation.     

Ince-Gaussian solitons in strongly nonlocal nonlinear media

We have introduced a novel class of higher-order spatial optical Ince-Gaussian solitons (IGSs) that constitute the third complete family of exact and orthogonal soliton solutions of the Snyder-Mitchell model. The transverse structure of the IGSs is characterized by the Ince polynomials and has an inherent elliptical symmetry. The IGSs form the exact and continuous transition modes between Hermite-Gaussian solitons and Laguerre-Gaussian solitons.     

强非局域非线性介质中的涡旋光孤子

满足强非局域条件时，光束在非局域非线性介质的传输过程由Snyder-Mitchell模型描述.在旋转柱坐标系下求解了Snyder-Mitchell模型，得到涡旋光孤子的自相似旋转解析解.结果表明，涡旋光孤子解在径向是惠特克函数与幂函数的乘积，光束的光强呈环形分布，光束绕光束中心旋转. 关键词： 非局域非线性介质 强非局域性 涡旋光孤子 惠特克函数     

Two-dimensional spatial solitons in highly nonlocal nonlinear media

We investigate, analytically and numerically, a class of novel higher-order spatial solitons in two transverse-dimensions, in highly nonlocal nonlinear media. The stability of these solutions in propagation is confirmed by direct numerical simulation. Our results demonstrate that the higher-order spatial solitons in highly nonlocal nonlinear media can exist in various forms, such as the fundamental solitons, vortex-ring solitons, multipole solitons, and fractional solitons.     

Incoherently coupled Hermite-Gaussian breather and soliton pairs in strongly nonlocal nonlinear media

We theoretically investigate the propagation of incoherently coupled Hermite-Gaussian breather and soliton pairs in strongly nonlocal nonlinear media. It is found that multipole-mode soliton pairs with arbitrary different orders of Hermite-Gaussian shape can exist when the total power of two beams equals the critical power and the ratio of the beam widths for the Gaussian part is inversely proportional to the square root of the ratio of the wave numbers. When the total power does not equal the critical power, the Hermite-Gaussian breather pair exists and their beam widths evolve analogously. For general cases where the ratio of the beam widths is arbitrary, soliton-breather pairs or breather-breather pairs can be formed and their beam widths evolve synchronously in-phase or out-of-phase. Numerical simulations directly based on the nonlocal nonlinear Schrödinger equation are conducted for comparison with our theoretical predictions. The numerical stability analysis shows the higher-order Hermite-Gaussian solitons can not be stable for small nonlocality or for some media like liquid crystals.     

Vortex solitons with inhomogeneous polarization in nonlocal self-focusing nonlinear media

Both azimuthally and radially polarized vortex solitons are investigated to be able to exist in highly nonlocal nonlinear media. We get exactly analytical solutions of azimuthally polarized vortex solitons with only polarization singularities and radially polarized vortex solitons with both phase singularities and polarization singularities. Both azimuthally and radially polarized vortex solitons can exist in nonlocal self-focusing nonlinear media with proper modulation of the beam power and the degree of nonlocality. Contrary to those of radially polarized counterparts in local Kerr media, the topological charge can be any integer. When the topological charge m ≠ 0, both phase singularities and polarization singularities work. When m = 0, the polarization singularities work. Azimuthally polarized vortex solitons with polarization singularities corresponds to the linearly polarized vortex solitons with single charge. Our results show that polarization singularities work the same way as phase singularities in some sense.     

Propagation of four-petal Gaussian beams in strongly nonlocal nonlinear media

The propagation of four-petal Gaussian beams in strongly nonlocal nonlinear media has been studied. The analytical solution and the analytical second-order moment beam width are obtained. For the off-waist incident and the waist incident cases, the intensity pattern evolves periodically during propagation in strongly nonlocal nonlinear media. Under the off-waist incident condition, the second-order moment beam width varies periodically during propagation, whatever the input power is. But under the waist incident condition, there exists a critical power. When the input power equals the critical power, the second-order moment beam width remains invariant, otherwise the second-order moment beam width varies periodically. Numerical simulations based on the nonlocal nonlinear Schrödinger equation are carried out for comparison with the theoretical predictions. The results show that the numerical simulations are in good agreement with the analytical results in the case of strong nonlocality.     

Elliptic incoherent spatial solitons and their interactions in strongly nonlocal media with an anisotropic nonlocality

We investigate the propagation and interaction of elliptic incoherent spatial solitons (EISS) in strongly nonlocal kerr media with an anisotropic nonlocality based on the coherent density approach. An exact analytical solution of such EISS is obtained; the results show that such EISS can form with both isotropic and anisotropic coherence. Moreover, we find that the interaction properties of EISS are very similar to that of their coherent counterpart. Some numerical examples are presented and pertinent physics features are addressed.     

Periodic solitons in nonlocal nonlinear media

We identify periodic solitons in nonlocal nonlinear media: multi-hump soliton solutions propagating in a fully periodic fashion. We also demonstrate recurrences and breathers whose evolution is statistically periodic and discuss why some systems support periodic solitons while others do not.     

Elliptic incoherent accessible solitons in strongly nonlocal media

We study the propagation of elliptic incoherent accessible solitons in strongly nonlocal media with noninstantaneous Kerr nonlinearity. For this soliton to exist, the coherence properties of the incoherent beam should be anisotropic. The total power of the incident beam should also equal to a critical value which depend on the beam width as well as the coherence properties. When initial parameters of the beam do not satisfy the existence conditions, the elliptic incoherent accessible solitons will undergo linear harmonic oscillation in different states. Corresponding properties are studied in detail.     

Lattice-supported surface solitons in nonlocal nonlinear media

We reveal that lattice interfaces imprinted in nonlocal nonlinear media support surface solitons that do not exist in other similar settings, including interfaces of local and nonlocal uniform materials. We show the impact of nonlocality on the domains of existence and stability of the surface solitons, focusing on new types of dipole solitons residing partially inside the optical lattice. We find that such solitons feature strongly asymmetric shapes and that they are stable in large parts of their existence domain.     

Spiraling multivortex solitons in nonlocal nonlinear media

We demonstrate the existence of a broad class of higher-order rotating spatial solitons in nonlocal nonlinear media. We employ the generalized Hermite-Laguerre-Gaussian ansatz for constructing multivortex soliton solutions and study numerically their dynamics and stability. We discuss in detail the tripole soliton carrying two spiraling phase dislocations, or self-trapped optical vortices.     

Multipole vector solitons in nonlocal nonlinear media

We show that multipole solitons can be made stable via vectorial coupling in bulk nonlocal nonlinear media. Such vector solitons are composed of mutually incoherent nodeless and multipole components jointly inducing a nonlinear refractive index profile. We found that stabilization of the otherwise highly unstable multipoles occurs below certain maximum energy flow. Such a threshold is determined by the nonlocality degree.     

Random-phase surface-wave solitons in nonlocal nonlinear media

We demonstrate, theoretically and experimentally, incoherent surface solitons in a noninstantaneous nonlocal nonlinear media. These incoherent surface waves are located at the interface between a nonlinear medium with long-range nonlocality and a linear dielectric medium (air).     

Two-dimensional multipole solitons in nonlocal nonlinear media

We present the experimental observation of scalar multipole solitons in highly nonlocal nonlinear media, including dipole, tripole, quadrupole, and necklace-type solitons, organized as arrays of out-of-phase bright spots. These complex solitons are metastable, but with a large parameters range where the instability is weak, permitting their experimental observation.     

Gray spatial solitons in nonlocal nonlinear media

We study gray solitons in nonlocal nonlinear media and show that they are stable and can form bound states. We reveal that the gray soliton velocity depends on the nonlocality degree and that it can be drastically reduced in highly nonlocal media. This is in contrast with the case of local media, where the maximal velocity is dictated solely by the asymptotic soliton amplitude.     

Surface superlattice solitons in nonlocal nonlinear media

We analyse surface solitons at the interface between a one-dimensional photonic superlattice and a uniform medium with weak nonlocal nonlinearity. We demonstrate that in deep lattices there exist three kinds of surface solitons when the propagation constant exceeds a critical value, including two on-site solitons and one off-site soliton. These three kinds of surface solitons have unique dynamical properties. If the relative depth of the superlattice is low, there is only one kind of off-site soliton; however, the solitons of this kind can propagate stably, unlike their deep superlattice counterparts. Dipole surface solitons are also investigated, and the stable domain is given.     

Two-dimensional stationary nonlinear surface solitons in nonlocal nonlinear media

We address two-dimensional surface solitons occurring at the interface between a semi-infinite linear medium and a semi-infinite nonlocal nonlinear medium. We find that there exist stable single and dipole surface solitons. The properties of the surface solitons can be affected by the degree of nonlocality. Interestingly, only when the degree of nonlocality is greater than a critical value, the surface solitons can exist.