Optical vortex solitary wave in a bounded nematic-liquid-crystal cell

摘要

Modulation theory, based on a Lagrangian formulation of the governing equations, is used to investigatenthe propagation of a nonlinear, nonlocal optical vortex solitary wave in a finite nematic-liquid-crystal cell. Thennematic response to the vortex is calculated using the approach of themethod of images (MOI). It is demonstratednthat the MOI is a reliable alternative to the usual Fourier series solution as it requires an order of magnitudenfewer terms to obtain excellent agreement with numerical solutions. It is found that the cell walls, in additionnto repelling the optical vortex solitary wave, as for an optical solitary wave, can destabilize it due to the fixedndirector orientation at the walls. A linearized stability analysis is used to explain and analyze this instability.nIn particular, the minimum distance of approach of a stable vortex to the wall is determined from the stabilitynanalysis. Good agreement is found with numerical minimum approach distances.