We consider the interaction of counterpropagating pulses via a ${\mathrm{\chi }}^{\mathrm{}\left(3\right)\mathrm{}}$ nonlinearity, in an isotropic electrostriction medium. The polarization is taken into account and can vary through each pulse; group-velocity dispersion is neglected. We find a family of analytic solutions, termed polarization solitons, which play a central role in the dynamics. Upon interaction, the net effect on their polarization profiles is a rigid rotation in Stokes vector space. As special cases, they include the first nontrivial examples of polarization-transparent and orthogonally switched pulses.

• Received 3 December 1986

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.58.1104