Propagation of ellipitic Gaussian laser beam in a higher order non-linear medium

Using a direct variational technique involving elliptic Gaussian laser beam trial function, the combined effect of nonlinearity and diffraction on wave propagation of optical beam in a homogeneous higher order nonlinear medium is presented. Particular emphasis is put to understand the variation of beam width and longitudinal phase delay with the distance of propagation in case of lossless and lossy medium. It is also observed that stationary self-trapping is possible in lossless medium at higher laser intensity where fifth order nonlinearity becomes comparable to third order nonlinearity. The phase is also seen to be always negative.