Abstract

Liquid-crystal light valves can control the orientation of a nematic layer under the independent or combined action of applied voltage and impinging light intensity; hence, they offer a unique environment for the propagation of spatial optical solitons or nematicons. We demonstrate nematicon excitation, propagation, and steering in photoconductive light valves.

© 2009 Optical Society of America

Self-healing generation of spatial solitons in liquid crystals

A. Alberucci, M. Peccianti, G. Assanto, G. Coschignano, A. De Luca, and C. Umeton
Opt. Lett. 30(11) 1381-1383 (2005)

Nematicon all-optical control in liquid crystal light valves

A. Alberucci, A. Piccardi, U. Bortolozzo, S. Residori, and G. Assanto
Opt. Lett. 35(3) 390-392 (2010)

Countering spatial soliton breakdown in nematic liquid crystals

Jeroen Beeckman, Hamidreza Azarinia, and Marc Haelterman
Opt. Lett. 34(12) 1900-1902 (2009)

Discrete propagation and spatial solitons in nematic liquid crystals

Andrea Fratalocchi, Gaetano Assanto, Kasia A. Brzdąkiewicz, and Mirek A. Karpierz
Opt. Lett. 29(13) 1530-1532 (2004)

Picometer detection by adaptive holographic interferometry in a liquid-crystal light valve

U. Bortolozzo, S. Residori, and J. P. Huignard
Opt. Lett. 34(13) 2006-2008 (2009)