Experimental research on the dynamics and steering of optical domain walls

This paper presents experimental research on the formation, dynamics, and steering of domain walls (DWs) in a phase-sensitive nonlinear optical cavity, such as a photorefractive oscillator in a degenerate four-wave mixing configuration. A main feature of the system is its transverse one-dimensionality, which avoids curvature effects that affect DW behaviour. Two aspects are discussed, namely, the experimental observation of the nonequilibrium Ising-Bloch transition in optics, and the steering of individual DWs, either isolated or arranged in a stable linear array.