SPATIAL STRUCTURE OF LIGHT AND A NONLINEAR REFRACTIVE-INDEX GENERATED BY FANNING IN PHOTOREFRACTIVE MEDIA

We investigate asymmetric stimulated photorefractive scattering (fanning) in the framework of a two-dimensional model, based on the solution of nonlinear material equations and parabolic equations for electromagnetic radiation. We focus on the spatial distribution of electromagnetic fields and the nonlinear refractive index generated by fanning. In the region of developed fanning the structure of the refractive index corresponds to regions of relatively smooth index with abrupt transitions between them. These transitions trace lines of zero field. © 1995 The American Physical Society.