Circling optical vortices

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Abstract
Using a photorefractive oscillator, we show experimental optical patterns whose principal features are optical vortices moving around an optical axis on circles. These patterns can be interpreted as simultaneous emission of helical fields with high-charge phase singularities and other rotationally symmetric fields. Patterns with up to nine circling vortices are shown, as well as patterns with two concentric ‘‘wheels’’ of vortices. Mode locking in these rotating patterns corresponds to a stopping of the rotation. An intermediate case between free rotation and locking, in which the pattern ‘‘jumps’’ between certain angular positions, is demonstrated, showing that phase locking of these modes, which is not possible for an isotropic resonator, can come about by small anisotropies.
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