INTERACTION OF 2 SPATIALLY SEPARATED LIGHT-BEAMS IN A NONLINEAR KERR MEDIUM

The evolution of two spatially separated light beams in a nonlinear Ke rr medium described by a system of coupled nonlinear Schrodinger equat ions is studied. An analytic solution is found for the variational pro blem. It is shown that when two crossed beams interact, a bound state can develop in which the distance between the centers of the beams and their radii vary periodically. Here the mutual curvature of the traje ctories of the centers of the beams causes the beams to bend into a he lical structure whose parameters (pitch and diameter) are also periodi c functions. The threshold power for mutual trapping is determined and the period of the oscillations is found. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.