Homoclinic snaking of localized patterns in a spatially forced system

Phys Rev Lett. 2011 Dec 23;107(26):264101. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.264101. Epub 2011 Dec 22.

Abstract

Dissipative localized structures exhibit intricate bifurcation diagrams. An adequate theory has been developed in one space dimension; however, discrepancies arise with the experiments. Based on an optical feedback with spatially modulated input beam, we set up a 1D forced configuration in a nematic liquid crystal layer. We characterize experimentally and theoretically the homoclinic snaking diagram of localized patterns, providing a reconciliation between theory and experiments.