Observation of dipole-mode vector solitons

We report on the first experimental observation of a novel type of optical vector soliton, a dipole-mode soliton, recently predicted theoretically. We show that these vector solitons can be generated in a photorefractive medi um employing two different processes: a phase imprinting, and a symmetry-br eaking instability of a vortex-mode vector soliton. The experimental result s display remarkable agreement with the theory, and confirm the robust natu re of these radially asymmetric two-component solitary waves.