We analyze the interactions of (2 + 1)-dimensional parametric solitons
and demonstrate nonplanar beam switching in a bulk chi((2)) medium, w
hich includes controllable soliton repulsion, spiraling, and fusion. a
nalytical model predicting the results of the soliton scattering is de
rived and verified by direct numerics. (C) 1998 Optical Society of Ame
rica. OCIS codes: 190.4390, 190.4410, 190.5530, 290.0290.