Three-Dimensional Spiraling of Interacting Spatial Solitons

Abstract
We report the observation of three-dimensional spiraling collision of interacting two-dimensional spatial solitons. The solitons are photorefractive screening solitons and are phase incoherent to each other at all times. The collision provides the solitons with angular momentum which is manifested in a centrifugal repulsion force. When it is balanced by attraction, the solitons spiral about each other in a DNA-like structure.