Observation of nonlinear Airy-like beam evolution in Lithium-Niobate

We report the observation of Gaussian beam fragmentation into Airy-like waveforms during nonlinear propagation. The effect is supported by the high-intensity photovoltaic nonlinearity arising in unbiased pure congruent lithium niobate. The process is found to occur when the nonlinear response is dominated by the nonlocal effects associated with the charge-displacement process