Band-Gap Guidance in Optically Induced Photonic Lattices with a Negative Defect

We report the first experimental demonstration of band-gap guidance of light in an optically induced two-dimensional photonic lattice with a single-site negative defect (akin to a low-index core in photonic-crystal fibers). We discuss the difference between spatial guidance at a regular and a defect site, and show that the guided beam through the defect displays fine structures such as vortex cells that arise from defect modes excited at higher band gaps. Defect modes at different wavelengths are also observed.