Jung, Pawel SIzdebskaya, YanaShvedov, VladlenChristodoulides, Demetrios NKrolikowski, Wieslaw2023-04-270146-9592http://hdl.handle.net/1885/289740We study the propagation dynamics of bright optical vortex solitons in nematic liquid crystals with a nonlocal reorientational nonlinear response. We investigate the role of optical birefringence on the stability of these solitons. In agreement with recent experimental observations, we show that the birefringence-induced astigmatism can eventually destabilize these vortex solitons. However, for low and moderate birefringence, vortex solitons can propagate stably over experimentally relevant distances.Simons Foundation (Simons grant 733682); Office of Naval Research (MURI (N00014-20-1-2789)); Qatar National Research Fund (NPRP12S-0205-190047); Narodowe Centrum Nauki (UMO-2013/08/A/ST3/00708); Ministerstwo Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyzszego ˙ (1654/MOB/V/2017/0).application/pdfen-AU© 2020 Optical Society of AmericaFormation and stability of vortex solitons in nematic liquid crystals202110.1364/OL.4108002022-02-06