Scalar and vector supermode solitons owing to competing nonlocal nonlinearities

Opt Express. 2021 Mar 15;29(6):8015-8023. doi: 10.1364/OE.417352.

Abstract

We investigate scalar and vector multi-hump spatial solitons resulting from competing Kerr-like nonlinear responses excited in a nonlocal medium by either one or two (mutually incoherent) light beams. Two-color vector supermode solitons are more amenable to control but exhibit an intriguing form of spontaneous symmetry breaking in propagation.