Nonlinear dynamics and tailoring of spatial solitons in photorefractive crystals with Olver beams

Spatial solitons have become nowadays a focal research domain in nonlinear optics. This work presents the first, to the best of our knowledge, observation of the nonlinear dynamics of Olver beams (OBs) and demonstrates the realization of diverse spatial soliton formation by leveraging the unique properties of OBs. Using the distinct propagation characteristics of the odd- and even-order OBs, two innovative approaches are proposed for the generation of spatial solitons. For the even-order OBs, a superposition of two OB components is implemented to induce breathers through nonlinear interactions. For the odd-order OBs, precisely engineered phase and amplitude modulation enable the generation of multisoliton complexes and trajectory-tunable off-axis solitons. This work offers a novel approach to nonlinear beam manipulation in photorefractive media relevant to photonic devices and optical communications.