Abstract

The use of self-trapped optical beams to perform signal processing and logic functions has been the subject of an increasing amount of research over the course of the last few years. Spatial solitons, which arise from the competition between diffraction and self-focusing, have the ability to interact with each other, with nonlinear interfaces and to guide light of a different wavelength. There are two general classes of spatial soliton, namely: bright and dark, in the following discussion both types will be considered.

© 1993 Optical Society of America