Nonlocal stabilization of nonlinear beams in a self-focusing atomic vapor

Skupin, S.; Saffman, M.; Krolikowski, W.

Nonlocal stabilization of nonlinear beams in a self-focusing atomic vapor

Authors

Skupin, S.

Saffman, M.

Krolikowski, W.

Description

We show that ballistic transport of optically excited atoms in an atomic vapor provides a nonlocal nonlinearity which stabilizes the propagation of vortex beams and higher order modes in the presence of a self-focusing nonlinearity. Numerical experiments demonstrate stable propagation of lowest and higher order vortices over a hundred diffraction lengths, before dissipation leads to decay of these structures.
3 figures