Generation of higher-order optical (2+1)-dimensional spatial vector solitons in a nonlinear anisotropic medium - art. no. 056601

We investigate the generation of higher-order optical vector solitons in tw o transverse dimensions in anisotropic nonlinear media consisting of an inc oherent superposition of a Gaussian beam and a higher-order laser mode with a complex internal modal structure. We demonstrate both numerically and ex perimentally various examples of these stable self-trapped light structures and show that vortex modes carrying topological charge always decay into m ultiple-humped structures that remain self trapped during propagation. Furt hermore. we demonstrate the mutual stabilization of a triple- and a double- humped transverse light structure leading to the formation of a two-dimensi onal vector soliton without a stabilizing fundamental Gaussian mode.