Nonlinear dynamics of spiraling laser beams

Abstract

Spiraling of laser beams in nonlinear media is one of the manifestations of optical orbital angular momentum (OAM). We explore unusual dynamics of spiraling spatial solitons, including stabilization of azimuthons and quasi-periodic transformations of nonlocal solitons, as well as contribution of OAM towards suppression of catastrophic self-focusing, or collapse, in Kerr media.