Spatially Periodic Potentials (Lattices): Experiments

Abstract

This chapter is a relatively short one, as there are much fewer experimental results reporting the creation of stable multidimensional solitons supported by lattice potentials than the number of various theoretical predictions that are summarized in Chap. 7. It is relevant to stress that this book aims to present an overview of experimental findings that are most relevant to the topic of multidimensional solitons, but not a detailed account of experimental results and methods in this area. The results included in the chapter are the creation of stable 2D optical solitons with embedded vorticity, S = 1, and a multi-peak local density distribution, in a photorefractive material, stabilized by a virtual square-shaped photonic lattice; creation of solitons with vorticity S = 2, stabilized by a hexagonal lattice; and the making of spatiotemporal light bullets (LBs), both fundamental ones and LBs with embedded vorticity, propagating in bulk silica samples with a built-in multi-core waveguiding structure. These LBs are 3D quasi-solitons, as they exist only in a transient state. Also mentioned are experimental results demonstrating surface solitons supported by photonic lattices with an edge, and Anderson localization of the spatiotemporal propagation in a random multi-core structure.