We introduce novel classes of optical vector solitons that consist of incoherently coupled self-trapped “necklace” beams carrying zero, integer, and even fractional angular momentum. Because of the stabilizing mutual attraction between the components, such stationary localized structures exhibit quasistable propagation for much larger distances than the corresponding scalar vortex solitons and expanding scalar necklace beams.

• Received 27 December 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.033901