MULTISTABILITY OF OPTICAL-PATTERNS IN A NONLINEAR THIN-FILM DUE TO THE INTERACTION OF HOPF MODES

It is demonstrated that multistability of different patterns occurs in a nonlinear optical system consisting of a thin film and feedback min or. This is a consequence of an interplay between diffraction and dela y effects, which leads to the excitation of different spatiotemporal H opf modes. The Hopf triads satisfying conditions of spatiotemporal mat ching form a variety of structures which differ in a form, size, and d irection of motion.