Soliton "molecules": robust clusters of light bullets

Abstract

We show how to generate robust self-sustained clusters of soliton bullets-spatiotemporal (optical or matter-wave) solitons. The clusters carry an orbital angular momentum being supported by competing nonlinearities. The "atoms" forming the "molecule" are fully three-dimensional solitons linked via a staircase-like macroscopic phase. Recent progress in generating atomic-molecular coherent mixing in Bose-Einstein condensates might open potential scenarios for the experimental generation of these soliton molecules with matter-waves.