Magnetically controlled negative refraction of solitons in liquid crystals

Abstract

We demonstrate magnetically controlled refraction of a spatial soliton forming beam at the interface between an isotropic material and a uniaxial nematic liquid crystal, in which the optical axis together with an incident beam can make any desired angles with the interface. Depending on the direction of the applied magnetic field and incident beam angle, the refracted soliton forming beam experiences either positive or negative refraction. Show more