Nonlinearly controlled angular momentum of soliton clusters

We demonstrate an original approach, to the best of our knowledge, to acquire nonlinear control over the angular momentum of a cluster of solitary waves. We show that the angular momentum can be adjusted by acting on the global excitation of the system. The effect is verified in liquid crystals by observing powerdependent rotation of a two-soliton cluster. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.