We demonstrate experimentally that a periodic perturbation on a partially spatially incoherent optical beam induces modulation instability that depends strongly on the perturbation periods as well as on the strength of the nonlinearity and the degree of spatial coherence. At a fixed value of the nonlinearity and coherence, the incoherent modulation instability has a maximum growth at a preferred perturbation period (or spatial frequency), leading to the formation of ordered patterns. While the nonlinearity in our photorefractive system is inherently anisotropic, pattern control and pattern switching with anisotropic coherence is readily realized. Our experimental observations are in good agreement with theoretical predictions.

• Received 4 June 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.66.066601