Circulating spatial solitons

A class of optical spatial solitons exhibiting propagation in a closed-loop orbit in a two-dimensional plane is presented. A closed-form particlelike model is derived, indicating that the quasi-centrifugal force acting on these solitons can be balanced by an inhomogeneity in the nonlinear index of refraction. Specifically, a circular-shaped nonlinear interface is shown to facilitate stable orbital propagation of solitons that carve their own circular cavity for a wide range of nonlinearity parameters.