TUTCRIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Properties of nematicons in low-birefringence nematic liquid crystals

AU - Kwaśny, Michał

AU - Laudyn, Urszula A.

AU - Sala, Filip A.

AU - Piccardi, Armando

AU - Alberucci, Alessandro

AU - Karpierz, Mirosław A.

AU - Assanto, Gaetano

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - We investigate a nonlinear self-focusing and nematicon generation in low birefringence nematic liquid crystals (NLCs), where Δn≈0.04. Nematicons are obtained for larger optical powers but they are more stable than in NLCs with standard birefringence, of the order of Δn≈0.2. Moreover, in low-birefringent NLCs, polarization components exchange energy in a nonlinear regime. Such behaviour is not observed in typical NLCs, where ordinary and extraordinary waves tend to propagate independently due to large walk off. The results of our experimental test are also compared with numerical simulations, using a fully vectorial BPM. Calculations and experimental results are in good qualitative and quantitative agreement.

AB - We investigate a nonlinear self-focusing and nematicon generation in low birefringence nematic liquid crystals (NLCs), where Δn≈0.04. Nematicons are obtained for larger optical powers but they are more stable than in NLCs with standard birefringence, of the order of Δn≈0.2. Moreover, in low-birefringent NLCs, polarization components exchange energy in a nonlinear regime. Such behaviour is not observed in typical NLCs, where ordinary and extraordinary waves tend to propagate independently due to large walk off. The results of our experimental test are also compared with numerical simulations, using a fully vectorial BPM. Calculations and experimental results are in good qualitative and quantitative agreement.

U2 - 10.4302/plp.2013.1.04

DO - 10.4302/plp.2013.1.04

M3 - Article

VL - 5

SP - 8

EP - 10

JO - Photonics Letters of Poland

JF - Photonics Letters of Poland

SN - 2080-2242

IS - 1

ER -