2015/10/31 by Fabian Maucher, F. Maucher, T. Pohl +5 · 84 citations
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Fiber Laser Technologies #Computer science #Coupling (piping) #Free space #Laser #Laser beams #Laser-Matter Interactions and Applications #Light beam #Light intensity #Materials science #Mathematics #Nonlinear Photonic Systems #Nonlinear optics #Nonlinear system #Observable #Optics #Parameter space #Physics #Quantum #Quantum entanglement #Quantum mechanics #Quantum nonlocality #Self-focusing #Space (punctuation) #Transverse plane #nlin.PS #physics.atom-ph #physics.optics
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.116.163902
published in Physical Review Letters 116(16), 163902 (American Physical Society) · 4 pages, 4 figures
arxiv created 2016/03/29 · openalex publication_date 2016/04/21 · arxiv updated 2016/04/27 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We study the propagation of light beams through optical media with competing nonlocal nonlinearities. We demonstrate that the nonlocality of competing focusing and defocusing nonlinearities gives rise to self-organization and stationary states with stable hexagonal intensity patterns, akin to transverse crystals of light filaments. Signatures of this long-range ordering are shown to be observable in the propagation of light in optical waveguides and even in free space. We consider a specific form of the nonlinear response that arises in atomic vapor upon proper light coupling. Yet, the general phenomenon of self-organization is a generic consequence of competing nonlocal nonlinearities, and may, hence, also be observed in other settings.