Optical generation and control of spatial Riemann waves

We extend the concept of Riemann waves (RWs) to the spatial domain and demonstrate for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, Riemann beams with a propagation scenario allowing controllable shock formation in a nonlinear optical system. Similar to their standard counterparts, “shifted” RWs are characterized by a local propagation speed proportional to their local amplitude. Their steepening dynamics can be judiciously controlled by means of an additional phase term. In particular, RWs are generated by properly tailoring the initial phase of an optical beam propagating through a thermal solution of an m-cresol/nylon mixture that exhibits a giant self-defocusing nonlinearity. The experimental results show a controllable steepening and shock wave behavior, in good agreement with the prediction from the simple inviscid Burgers equation.