Abstract

We report on the observation of self-induced nonlinear spin–orbit interaction of light driven by Kerr orientational optical nonlinearities in liquid crystals. It consists of the self-induced spin-to-orbital nonlinear conversion for the angular momentum of light. The optical angular momentum conversion is driven by the creation of a topological liquid crystal defect by the light itself. Moreover, we show that such a nonlinear process can be significantly enhanced by using additional electric fields.

©2012 Optical Society of America

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