Two-dimensional solitons in nonlinear lattices

We address the existence and stability of two-dimensional solitons in optical or matter-wave media, which are supported by purely nonlinear lattices in the form of a periodic array of cylinders with self-focusing non-linearity, embedded into a linear material. We show that such lattices can stabilize two-dimensional solitons against collapse. We also found that stable multipoles and vortex solitons are also supported by nonlinear lattices, provided that the norilinearity exhibits saturation. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America