Attractive interaction between pulses in a model for convection in binary mixtures

Competing modes of instability in an electrically driven nematic liquid crystal with a small positive dielectric anisotropy

Competing modes of electric-field-driven bifurcation have been examined in a planarly aligned nematic liquid crystal with a small positive dielectric anisotropy and large electrical conductivity. The line of bifurcation into the electroconvective state is linear in frequency not only up to the codimension-2 (C2) point but well beyond. This contrasts with the recent theoretical prediction of the absence of further bifurcations within the Freedericksz state, above the C2 frequency. Further, in the frequency regime beyond C2, within the space-filling electroconvective state, a strongly localized dynamical state (SLDS) appears at a voltage threshold which again is linear in frequency. Occurrence of the SLDS through a secondary forward bifurcation is significant in view of the reported observations on the so-called worms, an instability belonging to the SLDS, as the first form of convection seen at the primary subcritical bifurcation.

Dissipative solitons driving and bound state control via parameter gradients

The effect of phase and intensity gradients on the motion of dissipative solitons in a nonlinear interferometer is investigated. We show how the forces exerted by parameter gradients on the solitons alter their interactions. Consequently, it is possible to tune the spectrum of soliton bound states via the introduction of proper spatial distribution of the system parameters. Furthermore, we show how the use of properly shaped parameter distributions can lead to a relevant reduction of the cross-talk between close by solitons in applications.