Observation of two-dimensional discrete solitons in optically induced nonlinear photonic lattices

被引:1182
作者
Fleischer, JW
Segev, M [1 ]
Efremidis, NK
Christodoulides, DN
机构
[1] Technion Israel Inst Technol, Dept Phys, IL-32000 Haifa, Israel
[2] Princeton Univ, Dept Elect Engn, Princeton, NJ 08544 USA
[3] Univ Cent Florida, CREOL, Sch Opt, Orlando, FL 32816 USA
关键词
D O I
10.1038/nature01452
中图分类号
O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];
学科分类号
07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;
摘要
Nonlinear periodic lattices occur in a large variety of systems, such as biological molecules(1), nonlinear optical waveguides(2), solid-state systems(3) and Bose-Einstein condensates'. The underlying dynamics in these systems is dominated by the interplay between tunnelling between adjacent potential wells and non-linearity(1-15). A balance between these two effects can result in a self-localized state: a lattice or 'discrete' soliton(1,2). Direct observation of lattice solitons has so far been limited to one-dimensional systems, namely in arrays of nonlinear optical waveguides(2,9-17). However, many fundamental features are expected to occur in higher dimensions, such as vortex lattice solitons(18), bright lattice solitons that carry angular momentum, and three-dimensional collisions between lattice solitons. Here, we report the experimental observation of two-dimensional (2D) lattice solitons. We use optical induction, the interference of two or more plane waves in a photosensitive material, to create a 2D photonic lattice in which the solitons form(11,12). Our results pave the way for the realization of a variety of nonlinear localization phenomena in photonic lattices and crystals(19-23). Finally, our observation directly relates to the proposed lattice solitons in Bose-Einstein condensates', which can be observed in optically induced periodic potentials(24,25).
引用
收藏
页码:147 / 150
页数:4
相关论文
共 30 条
[1]  
ABLOWITZ MJ, 2001, PHYS REV LETT, V87
[2]   Macroscopic quantum interference from atomic tunnel arrays [J].
Anderson, BP ;
Kasevich, MA .
SCIENCE, 1998, 282 (5394) :1686-1689
[3]   GAP SOLITONS AND THE NONLINEAR OPTICAL-RESPONSE OF SUPERLATTICES [J].
CHEN, W ;
MILLS, DL .
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS, 1987, 58 (02) :160-163
[4]   BRIGHT, DARK, AND GRAY SPATIAL SOLITON STATES IN PHOTOREFRACTIVE MEDIA [J].
CHRISTODOULIDES, DN ;
CARVALHO, MI .
JOURNAL OF THE OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA B-OPTICAL PHYSICS, 1995, 12 (09) :1628-1633
[5]   SLOW BRAGG SOLITONS IN NONLINEAR PERIODIC STRUCTURES [J].
CHRISTODOULIDES, DN ;
JOSEPH, RI .
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS, 1989, 62 (15) :1746-1749
[6]   Discrete temporal solitons along a chain of nonlinear coupled microcavities embedded in photonic crystals [J].
Christodoulides, DN ;
Efremidis, NK .
OPTICS LETTERS, 2002, 27 (08) :568-570
[7]   DISCRETE SELF-FOCUSING IN NONLINEAR ARRAYS OF COUPLED WAVE-GUIDES [J].
CHRISTODOULIDES, DN ;
JOSEPH, RI .
OPTICS LETTERS, 1988, 13 (09) :794-796
[8]  
CHRISTODOULIDES DN, 2001, PHYS REV LETT, V87
[9]   SOLITARY EXCITONS IN ONE-DIMENSIONAL MOLECULAR CHAINS [J].
DAVYDOV, AS ;
KISLUKHA, NI .
PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI B-BASIC RESEARCH, 1973, 59 (02) :465-470
[10]   Discrete solitons in photorefractive optically induced photonic lattices [J].
Efremidis, NK ;
Sears, S ;
Christodoulides, DN ;
Fleischer, JW ;
Segev, M .
PHYSICAL REVIEW E, 2002, 66 (04) :5-046602