Light propagation, discrete diffraction, discrete solitons and discrete beats in periodic and non-periodic POLICRYPS structures

We present a simple model which enables the derivation of light propagation in a POLICRYPS structure, utilized as an array of planar waveguides realized in liquid crystalline composite materials. Discrete diffraction and soliton solutions are first numerically derived, without the need of any approximation, for a sinusoidal periodic profile; results are in good agreement with theoretical data and experimental results already reported in literature for similar structures. Furthermore, the direct derivation performed by means of a general approach allows to extend the analysis to a generic structure with no periodic conditions. As particular cases, light propagation in a double gaussian profile and in an alternated, non-periodic refractive index profile are reported.