Optical spatial shock waves in photorefractive media

Abstract

We show that the evolution equations describing the two-wave mixing interaction between two codirectional optical beams in photorefractive media can allow spatial shock-wave solutions. Our analysis indicates that these kink-type wavefronts move together at an angle that falls outside the initial +/-straight theta sector of propagation. The apparent direction of propagation and the spatial widths of these optical shock-wave beams are directly related to their relative intensity.