Controlling Spatio-Temporal Chaos In A Nonlinear Optical System By Fourier Space Filtering

We present an experimental and numerical study on the selection of unstable patterns embedded in a nonlinear optical system in weakly or strongly turbulent states by Fourier space filtering. This is implemented on a liquid crystal light valve showing abundant stationary and dynamic patterns. We drive the system into weak or strong turbulence and then control them into stationary or nonstationary patterns. The various target patterns can be easily achieved by the simple filter of pinhole type in the Fourier space.