Spatially incoherent modulational instability in a non local medium

We study one-dimensional transverse modulational instability in a non local medium excited by a spatially incoherent source. Employing undoped nematic liquid crystals in a planar pre-tilted configuration, we investigate the role of the spectral broadening induced by incoherence in conjunction with spatially non local molecular reorientation. The phenomenon is modeled using the Wigner transform. © 2005 by Astro Ltd.