Spatial solitons in liquid-crystal light valves

Opt Lett. 2009 Mar 15;34(6):737-9. doi: 10.1364/ol.34.000737.

Abstract

Liquid-crystal light valves can control the orientation of a nematic layer under the independent or combined action of applied voltage and impinging light intensity; hence, they offer a unique environment for the propagation of spatial optical solitons or nematicons. We demonstrate nematicon excitation, propagation, and steering in photoconductive light valves.