Quasi-ideal dynamics of vortex solitons embedded in top-hat nonlinear Bessel beams

Nonlinear Bessel beams in self-defocusing media are found to be the natural, non-diffracting background where vortex solitons can be nested, interact and survive for propagation distances that are one order of magnitude larger than in the usual Gaussian or super-Gaussian backgrounds. The dynamics of the vortex solitons approaches that in the ideal, uniform background, preventing vortex spiraling and decay, which eases vortex steering for applications.