Coherent interactions of dissipative spatial solitons

We report observation of the interaction between two coherent dissipative spatial solitons in a periodically patterned semiconductor optical amplifier with power levels of tens of milliwatts. The interactions are non-local and phase dependent and exhibit surprising features, such as soliton birth. The experimental results are in good agreement with the numerical simulations. (C) 2004 Optical Society of Americ