Solitons and vortices in honeycomb defocusing photonic lattices

Solitons and necklaces in the first band gap of a two-dimensional optically induced honeycomb defocusing photonic lattice are theoretically considered. It is shown that dipoles, soliton necklaces, and vortex necklaces exist and may possess regions of stable propagation through a photorefractive crystal. Most of the configurations disappear in bifurcations close to the upper edge of the first band. Solutions associated with such bifurcations are also numerically examined, and it is found that they are often asymmetric and more exotic. The dynamics of the relevant unstable structures are also examined through direct numerical simulations revealing either breathing oscillations or, in some cases, destruction of the original wave form.