Observation of optical azimuthons

We observe experimentally optical azimuthons, a generic class of ring-shaped localised spiralling beams with azimuthal modulation, carrying phase dislocation in self-focusing nonlinear media. We observe three- and four-lobe azimuthons in Rb-87 vapours and demonstrate their anomalous rotation controlled by the input phase distribution. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America