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We demonstrate thermo-optic control on the propagation of optical spatial solitons in nematic liquid crystals. By varying the sample temperature, both linear and nonlinear optical properties of the reorientational material are modulated by acting on the refractive indices, the birefringence, and the elastic response. As a result, both the trajectory and transverse confinement of spatial solitons can be adjusted, demonstrating an effective means to tune and readdress self-induced optical waveguides.

We investigate the role of competing nonlinear responses in the formation and propagation of bright spatial solitons. We use nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) exhibiting both thermo-optic and reorientational nonlinearities with continuous-wave beams. In a suitably prepared dye-doped sample and dual beam collinear geometry, thermal heating in the visible affects reorientational self-focusing in the near infrared, altering light propagation and self-trapping.

We theoretically investigate light self-trapping in nonlinear dielectrics with a reorientational response subject to threshold, specifically nematic liquid crystals. Beyond a finite excitation, two solitary waves exist for any given power, with an hysteretic dynamics due to feedback between beam size, self-focusing and the nonlinear threshold. Soliton stability is discussed on the basis of the system free energy.

This erratum amends some errors in Opt. Lett.43, 2296 (2018)OPLEDP0146-959210.1364/OL.43.002296.

We investigate the attractive interaction between spatial solitons in nematic liquid crystals with a tunable nonlinearity and a constant nonlocality. The experimental study, carried out by controlling the orientation of the optic axis via the electro-optic response, shows how the interactions depend on reorientation, in excellent agreement with a model accounting for the anisotropic nature of the dielectric.

We experimentally demonstrate and model dark spatial solitons in azo-doped liquid crystals, in the presence of saturation and nonlocality of the effective nonlinearity due to changes in molecular order. The guiding properties of dark solitons are probed with a weak input of different wavelength.

We discuss the interactions between self-guided light beams and light-induced perturbations in a liquid crystal light valve. The model and data are in perfect agreement.

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.

We demonstrate an original approach, to the best of our knowledge, to acquire nonlinear control over the angular momentum of a cluster of solitary waves. We show that the angular momentum can be adjusted by acting on the global excitation of the system. The effect is verified in liquid crystals by observing power-dependent rotation of a two-soliton cluster.