Self-focusing dynamics of coupled optical beams

Amiel A. Ishaaya, Taylor D. Grow, Saikat Ghosh, Luat T. Vuong, Alexander L. Gaeta

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

We theoretically and experimentally investigate the mutual collapse dynamics of two spatially separated optical beams in a Kerr medium. Depending on the initial power, beam separation, and the relative phase, we observe repulsion or attraction, which in the latter case reveals a sharp transition to a single collapsing beam. This transition to fusion of the beams is accompanied by an increase in the collapse distance, indicating the effect of the nonlinear coupling on the individual collapse dynamics. Our results shed light on the basic nonlinear interaction between self-focused beams and provide a mechanism to control the collapse dynamics of such beams.

Original languageEnglish
Article number023813
JournalPhysical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
Volume75
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 22 Feb 2007
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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