Rasmussen, Per DalgaardBang, OleKrolikowski, Wieslaw2009-08-192010-12-202009-08-192010-12-20Physical Review, E, Statistical, Nonlinear and Soft Matter Physics 72.6 (2005): 066611/1-71539-3755http://hdl.handle.net/10440/729http://digitalcollections.anu.edu.au/handle/10440/729We investigate interactions between spatial nonlocal bright solitons in nematic liquid crystals using an analytical (“effective particle”) approach as well as direct numerical simulations. The model predicts attraction of out-of-phase solitons and the existence of their stable bound state. This nontrivial property is solely due to the nonlocal nature of the nonlinear response of the liquid crystals. We further predict and verify numerically the critical outwards angle and degree of nonlocality which determine the transition between attraction and repulsion of out-of-phase solitons.7 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). ©2005 The American Physical SocietyKeywords: Computer simulation; Flow interactions; Mathematical models; Nematic liquid crystals; Phase transitions; Out-of-phase solitons; Soliton interaction; Transition; Solitons2005-12-2010.1103/PhysRevE.72.0666112015-12-12