Experimental demonstration of (1+1)D self-confinement and breathing soliton-like propagation in photorefractive crystals with strong optical activity

We report the experimental observation of (1+1)D self-confinement of laser beams in BSO crystals, photorefractive materials with strong optical activity (45 degrees /mm). Numerical simulations of light propagation in such conditions were used to check the experimental results. The possibility of obtaining self-confined beams with these materials is given by the application of really intense static electric fields which induce anomalous behaviour of the optical activity.