Observation of spatial cross-phase modulation effects in a self-defocusing nonlinear medium

Abstract

We report on experimental observations of spatial modifications, induced by the Kerr effect, in the profile of a weak probe beam due to a cross-phase modulation from a strong pump beam. The measurements were performed in a self-defocusing nonlinear medium (semiconductor doped glass) where the observation of induced focusing and spatial modulation instability were made possible. The experimental results are in good agreement with numerical simulations.