Nematicons escaping a wide trapping potential: modulation theory


G. Assanto, A. Minzoni, M. Peccianti and N. Smyth

Phys. Rev. A 79, 033837 (2009)

Abstract:

A nonlinear extension of geometric optics is used to derive a modulation theory solution for the trajectory of an optical solitary wave in a nematic liquid crystal, i.e., a nematicon in wich a wide waveguide has een defined by an externally applied static elecrtic field. This solution is used to find the power trehold for the solitary wave to escape the trapping waveguide. This treshold is found to be in excellent agreement with experimental results.