Vectorial effect of hybrid polarization states on the collapse dynamics of a structured optical field

The collapse dynamics of a structured optical field with a distribution of spatially-variant states of polarization (SoP) and a spiral phase in the field cross section is studied using the two-dimensional coupled nonlinear Schrodinger equations. The self-focusing of a structured optical field with an inhomogeneous SoP distribution can give rise to new phenomena of collapse dynamics that is completely different from a scalar field. The collapse patterns are closely related to the topological charges of the vortexas well as the polarization, the initial power, and the SoP distribution in the field cross section. A single on-axis collapse or multiple off-axis partial collapses may occur due to the self-focusing effects of linearly, elliptically and circularly polarized components located at different positions of the field cross-section. The polarization in the core of the collapsing beam is always linearly polarized. The structured collapsing beams, which are driven by the vortex, propagate along a spiral trajectory in a saturated medium. (C) 2016 Optical Society of America