An optical feedback nonlinear system with a Takens–Bogdanov point: experimental investigation

A two-component nonlinear optical system based on a liquid crystal light valve (LCLV) with external feedback loops is experimentally investigated. A degenerate codimension-2 bifurcation point in the parameter space is experimentally located, and the nonlinear behavior of steady and drifting roll patterns in the vicinity of this point is investigated. The experimental results are found to correlate well with the nonlinear theory developed recently. The results reported represent, to our knowledge, the first experimental observation of such nonlinear effects in optics.