Vortex switching with discrete multivortex solitons

We study the existence, stability, and dynamics of multivortex discrete solitons in a centrally coupled ring of nonlinear waveguides. A detailed analysis of possible geometrical configurations of globally linked elementary vortices within a stationary state is presented, together with the studies of their linear stability and perturbed dynamics. We identify regimes with robust switching between different vortex configurations, induced via the coordinated flipping of all vortex charges in a cluster, adiabatic spiraling of vortex lines, or spontaneous decay of unstable vortex clusters into stable solitons. These three mechanisms allow for all-optical switching between six topologically distinct vortex configurations.