Anisotropic interaction of three-dimensional spatial screening solitons

A theory based on the paraxial propagation of laser beams in nonlinear medi a and on the Kukhtarev material equations is developed to explain the inter action of bright spatial screening solitons in photorefractive crystals. A numerical study in three dimensions is performed to reveal qualitative and quantitative agreement with experiment. Screening solitons display a variet y of propagation effects, such as inelastic scattering, attraction and repu lsion, and oscillation and spiraling. Fn particular, we investigate the inf luence of initial separation and launching directions on the propagation of incoherent solitons. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America [S0740-3224(00)00 501-4] OCIS codes: 190.5330, 190.5530.