Interaction of vector solitons with a nonlinear interface

We develop the analytical method of field momenta for analyzing the dynamics of optical vector solitons in photorefractive nonlinear media. First, we derive the effective evolution equations for the parameters of multi-component solitons composed of incoherently coupled beams and investigate the soliton internal oscillations associated with the relative motion of the soliton components. Then, we apply this method for analyzing the vector soliton scattering by a nonlinear interface. In particular, we show that a vector soliton can be reflected, transmitted, captured, or split into separate components, depending on the initial energy of its internal degree of freedom. The results are verified by direct numerical simulations of spatial optical solitons in photorefractive nonlinear media. 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PACS: 42.65.)k; 42.65.Sf; 42.65.Jx; 42.65.Tg