Neshev, DragomirNepomnyashchy, AKivshar, Yuri2009-09-232010-12-202009-09-232010-12-20Physical Review Letters 87.4 (2001): 043901/1-40031-90071079-7114http://hdl.handle.net/10440/914http://digitalcollections.anu.edu.au/handle/10440/914We study linear and nonlinear wave scattering by an optical vortex in a self-defocusing nonlinear Kerr medium. In the linear case, we find a splitting of a plane-wave front at the vortex proportional to its circulation, similar to what occurs in the scattered wave of electrons for the Aharonov-Bohm effect. For larger wave amplitudes, we study analytically and numerically the scattering of a dark-soliton stripe (a nonlinear analog of a small-amplitude wave packet) by a vortex and observe a significant asymmetry of the scattered wave. Subsequently, a wave-front splitting of the scattered wave develops into transverse modulational instability, “unzipping” the stripe into trains of vortices with opposite charges.4 pageshttp://www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo/index.php "Author can archive pre-print (ie pre-refereeing) … post-print (ie final draft post-refereeing) … [and] publisher's version/PDF. Link to publisher version … [and] Copyright notice required. Publisher's version/PDF can be used on … employers web site." - from SHERPA/RoMEO site (as at 25/02/10). ©2001 The American Physical SocietyKeywords: Computer simulation; Electron scattering; Gas condensates; Mathematical models; Nonlinear equations; Nonlinear optics; Optical Kerr effect; Quantum theory; Solitons; Wave equations; Wavefronts; Aharonov-Bohm scattering; Optical vortices; Wave amplitudes;Nonlinear Aharonov-Bohm scattering by optical vortices2001-07-0310.1103/PhysRevLett.87.0439012015-12-10