Surface solitons at the interface between semi-infinite linear and thermal nonlinear optical media

We investigate numerically surface-wave solitons occurring at the interface between semi-infinite linear and thermal nonlinear optical media, with the refractive index of the linear medium being greater than that of the nonlinear medium (in the absence of light). We find that the threshold energy flows of the existence of the surface solitons depend on the linear refractive index difference of the two media. Their fitting empirical formula has been obtained. Furthermore, we elucidate that the optical beams propagating in thermal nonlinear optical media, either as a single surface soliton or as a dipole surface soliton, can be attracted to the surface, even when launched from far away.