Higher-order vortex solitons, multipoles, and supervortices on a square optical lattice

We predict new generic types of vorticity-carrying soliton complexes in a class of physical systems including an attractive Bose-Einstein condensate in a square optical lattice (OL) and photonic lattices in photorefractive media. The patterns include ring-shaped higher-order vortex solitons and supervortices. Stability diagrams for these patterns, based on direct simulations, are presented. The vortex ring solitons are stable if the phase difference Δφ between adjacent solitons in the ring is larger than π/2, while the supervortices are stable in the opposite case, Δφ < π/2. A qualitative explanation to the stability is given.