Observation of 2nd band vortex solitons in 2D photonic lattices
  We demonstrate second-band bright vortex-array solitons in photonic lattices. This constitutes the first experimental observation of higher-band solitons in any 2D periodic system. These solitons possess complex intensity and phase structures, yet they can be excited by a simple highly-localized vortex-ring beam. Finally, we show that the linear diffraction of such beams exhibits preferential transport along the lattice axes. 
Guy Bartal, Ofer Manela, Oren Cohen, Jason W. Fleischer, and Mordechai   Segev