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. © IOP Publishing and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft.
Interactions of accessible solitons with interfaces in anisotropic media: The case of uniaxial nematic liquid crystals / Alberucci, A.; Piccardi, A.; Barboza, R.; Buchnev, O.; Kaczmarek, M.; Assanto, G.. - In: NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. - ISSN 1367-2630. - ELETTRONICO. - 15:4(2013), p. 043011. [10.1088/1367-2630/15/4/043011]
Interactions of accessible solitons with interfaces in anisotropic media: The case of uniaxial nematic liquid crystals
Barboza R.;
2013-01-01
Abstract
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. © IOP Publishing and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.