Incoherent spatial solitary waves in nematic liquid crystals

Abstract
2+1-dimensional spatial solitary waves are generated by launching of milliwatt-power linearly polarized light beams in voltage-biased planar cells with undoped nematic liquid crystals, regardless of the degree of spatial coherence of the input. Coherent and incoherent self-trapping, as well as guidance of a weaker copolarized signal, is demonstrated.