Symmetry properties of two-dimensional quadratic spatial solitons for non-critical phase-matching in KNbO/sub 3/

Summary form only given. Quadratic spatial solitons owe their existence to the strong coupling via the second order nonlinearity between beams of different frequencies. Although such solitons have been generated in various geometries and materials, including non-critical phase matched (NCPM) ones, the unique properties of solitons in NCPM have not been discussed. NCPM introduces a symmetry into the soliton properties about the NCPM direction which should facilitate collisions between truly identical solitons, a large angular bandwidth about the NCPM axis, and a soliton threshold in KNbO/sub 3/ that is the lowest for birefringence phase-matching geometries reported to date.