Complex light: Dynamic phase transitions of a light beam in a nonlinear non-local disordered medium

The dynamics of several light filaments (spatial optical solitons) propagating in an optically nonlinear and non-local random medium is investigated using the paradigms of the physics of complexity. Cluster formation is interpreted as a dynamic phase transition. A connection with the random matrices approach for explaining the vibrational spectra of an ensemble of solitons is pointed out. General arguments based on a Brownian dynamics model are validated by the numerical simulation of a stochastic partial differential equation system. The results are also relevant for Bose condensed gases and plasma physics.Comment: 11 pages, 20 figures. Small revisions, added a referenc

Ultraviolet generation in periodically poled Lithium Tantalate waveguides

We demonstrate ultraviolet generation in lithium tantalate channel waveguides for frequency doubling via quasi-phase-matching. The samples, proton exchanged and nanostructured by electric-field assisted surface periodic poling with domains as deep as 40 μm, yield continuous wave light at 365.4 nm with conversion efficiencies larger than 7.5% W-1 cm-2

Interactions of accessible solitons with interfaces in anisotropic media: the case of uniaxial nematic liquid crystals

We investigate, both theoretically and experimentally, spatial soliton interaction with dielectric interfaces in a strongly anisotropic medium with non-locality, such as nematic liquid crystals. We throw light on the role of refractive index gradients as well as optic axis variations in both voltage- and self-driven angular steering of non-local solitons. We specifically address and then employ in experiments a suitably designed electrode geometry in a liquid crystalline cell in order to define and tune a graded dielectric interface by exploiting the electro-optic response of the material through the in-plane reorientation of the optic axis in two distinct regions. We study both refraction and total internal reflection as well as voltage controlled steering of spatial solitons

Nonlinear directional coupler for polychromatic light

We demonstrate that nonlinear directional coupler with special bending of waveguide axes can be used for all-optical switching of polychromatic light with very broad spectrum covering all visible region. The bandwidth of suggested device is enhanced five times compared to conventional couplers. Our results suggest novel opportunities for creation of all-optical logical gates and switches for polychromatic light with white-light and super-continuum spectrum.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure

Random quasi-phase-matched second-harmonic generation in periodically poled lithium tantalate

We observe second harmonic generation via random quasi-phase-matching in a 2.0 micron periodically poled, 1-cm-long, z-cut lithium tantalate. Away from resonance, the harmonic output profiles exhibit a characteristic pattern stemming from a stochastic domain distribution and a quadratic growth with the fundamental excitation, as well as a broadband spectral response. The results are in good agreement with a simple model and numerical simulations in the undepleted regime, assuming an anisotropic spread of the random nonlinear component

Surface Periodic Poling in Lithium Niobate and Lithium Tantalate

Periodic Poling of Lithium Niobate crystals (PPLN) by means of electric field has revealed the best technique for finely tailoring PPLN structures and parameters, which play a central role in many current researches in the field of nonlinear integrated optics. Besides the most studied technique of bulk poling, recently a novel technique where domain inversion occurs just in a surface layer using photoresist or silica masks has been devised and studied. This surface periodic poling (SPP) approach is best suited when light is confined in a thin surface guiding layer or stripe, as in the case of optical waveguide devices. Also, we found that SPP respect to bulk poling offers two orders of magnitude reduction on the scale of periodicity, so that even nanostructures can be obtained provided an high resolution holographic mask writing technique is adopted. We were able to demonstrate 200 nm domain size, and also good compatibility with alpha-phase proton exchange channel waveguide fabrication. Our first experiments on Lithium Tantalate have also shown that the SPP technology appears to be applicable to this crystal (SPPLT), whose properties can allow to overcome limitations such as optical damage or UV absorption still present in PPLN devices. Finally, the issue of SPP compatibility with proton exchange waveguide fabrication will be addresse