Three-dimensional optical vortices in nonlinear bessel waveguides

Abstract We explore the formation, stability, and propagation dynamics of light bullets carrying orbital angular momentum (vorticity) in Bessel-structured nonlinear graded-index waveguides. While these waves are prone to the collapse in uniform three-dimensional media, we demonstrate that their stabilization is provided by a squared-Bessel index profile in the plane orthogonal to the propagation direction, which may play the role of the waveguiding or antiwaveguiding potential. Different solution families are obtained, revealing a variety of power-vs.-propagation-constant diagrams, characterizing the coexistence of multiple families. We analyze the propagation dynamics in a wide experimentally accessible parameter range. Our results contribute to the understanding of nonlinear light localization in multidimensional settings and suggest new possibilities for using structured light in advanced photonic applications.