Controllable propagation of Pearcey–Gaussian beams in photorefractive media with fractional Schrödinger equation

Taking the fractional Schrödinger equation as the theoretical model, the evolution behavior of the Pearcey–Gaussian beam in the photorefractive medium is studied. The results show that breathing solitons are generated when the nonlinear effect and the diffraction effect are balanced with each other. Nonlinear coefficients, Lévy index and beams amplitude affect breathing period of the soliton and maximum peak intensity. Within a certain range, the breathing period of the soliton decreases with the increase of the nonlinear coefficient and the Lévy index. However when the beams amplitude increases, the breathing period and the maximum peak intensity of the soliton increase. Under the photorefractive effect, due to the bidirectional self-acceleration property of the Pearcey beam, the solitons formed will propagate vertically. These properties can be used to manipulate the beam and have potential applications in optical switching, plasma channeling, particle manipulation, etc.