OBSERVATION OF THE SELF-GUIDED PROPAGATION OF A DARK AND BRIGHT SPATIAL SOLITON PAIR IN A FOCUSING NONLINEAR MEDIUM

We present experimental results showing, for the first time to our knowledge, the simultaneous propagation of a dark and bright spatial solitary waves of different colors (1064 and 532 nm) in a homogeneous Kerr medium of the focusing type, thanks to cross-phase modulation. They correspond to a soliton pair, already proposed as a particular analytical solution of the two coupled wave equations. The intensity ratio between the two beams at which solitary propagation occurs is close to the theoretical value and the observed phenomena are consistent with numerical simulations of the experiment.