Two-Dimensional Optical Lattice Solitons in Photovoltaic-Photorefractive Crystals

We study two families of two-dimensional bright lattice solitons in photovoltaic-photorefractive crystals. It is shown that self-focusing and self-defocusing lattice solitons are possible only when their power level exceeds a critical threshold. It is found that self-focusing lattice solitons exist not only in the semi-infinite band gap, but also in the first band gap, whereas self-defocusing lattice solitons exist only in the first band gap. The structures of these lattice solitons are also analyzed. Our results indicate that a self-focusing lattice soliton in the semi-infinite band gap is more confined than in the first band gap so its tails in the first band gap occupy many lattice sites; when a self-defocusing lattice soliton is close to the second band, the self-defocusing lattice soliton is more confined so its tails occupy a few lattice sites.