Stabilized two-dimensional vector solitons

In this letter we introduce the concept of stabilized vector solitons as nonlinear waves constructed by addition of mutually incoherent Townes solitons that are stabilized under the effect of a periodic modulation of the nonlinearity. We analyze the stability of this new kind of structures and describe their behavior and formation in Manakov-like interactions. Potential applications of our results in Bose-Einstein condensation and nonlinear optics are also discussed.