Some Aspects of Optical Spatial Solitons in Photorefractive Crystals

We have reviewed recent developments of some aspects of optical spatial solitons in photorefractive media. Underlying principles governing the dynamics of photorefractive nonlinearity have been discussed using band transport model. Nonlinear dynamical equations for propagating solitons have been derived considering single as well as two-photon photorefractive processes. Fundamental properties of three types of solitons, particularly, screening, photovoltaic and screening photovoltaic solitons have been considered. For each type of solitons, three different configurations i.e., bright, dark and gray varieties have been considered. Mechanisms of formation of these solitons due to single as well as two-photon photorefractive processes have been considered and their self bending discussed. Vector solitons, particularly, incoherently coupled solitons due to single photon and two-photon photorefractive phenomena have been highlighted. Existence of some missing solitons have been also pointed out.