Power steered modes conversions and rotations in nonlocal nonlinear media

Abstract

Propagations of optical beams in nonlocal nonlinear media can be described by the nonlocal nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NNLSE). Hermite–Gaussian (HG) modes and Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) modes are two different sets of eigenmodes to the NNLSE. The inter-conversions can be achieved between the HG and the LG modes if they both carry a kind of cross phase. During the modes conversion processes, mode rotations appear. Furthermore, both the inter-conversions and the rotations between the two modes can be controlled exactly by the input optical power. These power induced mode conversions and rotations are discussed in the nematic liquid crystal as an exemplary nonlocal nonlinear media. The theoretical results provide potential applications in the beam shaping in optics.