TY - JOUR
T1 - Observation of two-dimensional discrete solitons in optically induced nonlinear photonic lattices
AU - Fleischer, Jason W.
AU - Segev, Mordechai
AU - Efremidis, Nikolaos K.
AU - Christodoulides, Demetrios N.
PY - 2003/3/13
Y1 - 2003/3/13
N2 - Nonlinear periodic lattices occur in a large variety of systems, such as biological molecules1, nonlinear optical waveguides2, solid-state systems3 and Bose-Einstein condensates4. The underlying dynamics in these systems is dominated by the interplay between tunnelling between adjacent potential wells and nonlinearity1-15. A balance between these two effects can result in a self-localized state: a lattice or 'discrete' soliton1,2. Direct observation of lattice solitons has so far been limited to onedimensional systems, namely in arrays of nonlinear optical waveguides2,9-17. However, many fundamental features are expected to occur in higher dimensions, such as vortex lattice solitons18, 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 form11,12. Our results pave the way for the realization of a variety of nonlinear localization phenomena in photonic lattices and crystals19-23. Finally, our observation directly relates to the proposed lattice solitons in Bose-Einstein condensates4, which can be observed in optically induced periodic potentials24,25.
AB - Nonlinear periodic lattices occur in a large variety of systems, such as biological molecules1, nonlinear optical waveguides2, solid-state systems3 and Bose-Einstein condensates4. The underlying dynamics in these systems is dominated by the interplay between tunnelling between adjacent potential wells and nonlinearity1-15. A balance between these two effects can result in a self-localized state: a lattice or 'discrete' soliton1,2. Direct observation of lattice solitons has so far been limited to onedimensional systems, namely in arrays of nonlinear optical waveguides2,9-17. However, many fundamental features are expected to occur in higher dimensions, such as vortex lattice solitons18, 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 form11,12. Our results pave the way for the realization of a variety of nonlinear localization phenomena in photonic lattices and crystals19-23. Finally, our observation directly relates to the proposed lattice solitons in Bose-Einstein condensates4, which can be observed in optically induced periodic potentials24,25.
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U2 - 10.1038/nature01452
DO - 10.1038/nature01452
M3 - Article
C2 - 12634781
AN - SCOPUS:0037434990
VL - 422
SP - 147
EP - 150
JO - Nature
JF - Nature
SN - 0028-0836
IS - 6928
ER -