Dipole soliton formation in a nematic liquid crystal in the nonlocal limit

Abstract

The interaction of two symmetric solitary waves, termed nematicons, in a liquid crystal is considered in the limit of nonlocal response of the liquid crystal. This nonlocal limit is the applicable limit for most experimentally available liquid crystals. In this nonlocal limit, two separate cases for the initial separation of the nematicons are considered, these being large and small separation. Both spinning and nonspinning nematicons are considered. It is found that in the case of large initial separation, the nematicons can form a spinning or nonspinning bound state with a finite steady separation, this being called a nematicon dipole, when they are π out of phase. On the other hand, well separated, nonspinning, in-phase nematicons attract and merge, while well separated, spinning, in-phase nematicons can either form a bound state or merge into a single nematicon. In the limit of small initial separation, the nematicons rapidly merge when they are in phase. Modulation equations describing the nematicon interaction are derived via suitable trial functions in an averaged Lagrangian. These modulation equations are further modified to include the effect of the diffractive radiation shed as the nematicons evolve. Finally the modulation equations are approximated in order to investigate the various interaction regimes. Good to excellent agreement is found between their solutions and full numerical solutions of the nematicon equations.