Transformation of optical beams into arrays of dissipative spatial solitons in material and virtual photonic-crystal structures

We propose two generic methods for producing two-dimensional (2D) optical spatial soliton arrays (SSAs) in the framework of dynamical models of material and virtual photonic-crystal media, based on the 2D cubic-quintic (CQ) complex Ginzburg-Landau (CGL) equations. The first method deals with a broad optical beam launched into a dissipative nonlinear medium which is equipped with an imprinted (material) grating of a sufficiently sharp form. The grating splits the beam into a cluster of jets, which subsequently self-trap into stable solitons, if the power of the individual jets is sufficient. We consider two kinds of sharp gratings-raised-cosine" (RC) and Kronig-Penney (KP) lattices-and two types of the input beams, fundamental and vortical. By selecting appropriate parameters, this type of the photonic-crystal structure makes it possible to create various types of SSAs, such as solid, annular (in the from of single and double rings), and cross-shaped ones. The second method uses a "virtual photonic-crystal lattice", in the form of a periodic transverse phase modulation imprinted into the broad beam, which is passed through an appropriate phase mask and then shone into the uniform nonlinear medium. Two different types of the masks are considered, patterned as "checkerboards" or "tilings". Broad fundamental and vortical beams with the periodic transverse modulation imprinted into them may also evolve into stable SSAs, if both the power of the incident beam and spacing of the virtual phase lattice are large enough. By means of the "virtual" technique, square-shaped, hexagonal, and quasi-crystalline stable SSAs can be created.