Formation of discrete solitons in light-induced photonic lattices

We present both experimental and theoretical results on discrete solitons in two-dimensional optically-induced photonic lattices in a variety of settings, including fundamental discrete solitons, vector-like discrete solitons, discrete dipole solitons, and discrete soliton trains. In each case, a clear transition from two-dimensional discrete diffraction to discrete trapping is demonstrated with a waveguide lattice induced by partially coherent light in a bulk photorefractive crystal. Our experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical analysis of these effects.