Polarization field in optical spatial vector solitons

We report for the first time the experimental observation of polarization f ield in optical spatial solitons in nonlinear planar waveguide. The measure ments have been checked by an improved local method (nonlinear ellipsometry method). The results confirm the uniformity of the polarization field for TE and TM solitons (in 1 + 1D propagation). In the case of mixed TE-TM inpu t polarization, we have pointed out the existence of spatial vector soliton s in such nonlinear waveguides. Their output polarization state distributio n is uniform in the transverse section. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.