OPTIMIZATION OF OPTICAL BEAM-STEERING IN NONLINEAR KERR MEDIA BY SPATIAL PHASE MODULATION

The optimum conditions for optical beam steering by spatial phase modulation in nonlinear Kerr media are obtained by use of the conservation laws of the nonlinear Schrodinger equation together with the moment method. The operating conditions under which the deflection angle is largest and the deflected beam carries the most energy in the form of a spatial soliton are determined. The analytical theory is applied to both planar waveguides and bulk Kerr media. The analytical predictions are compared with numerical simulations for the case of sinusoidal spatial phase modulation. Good agreement has been found between the analytical results and computer simulations.