This article examines the closed-form soliton solutions and stability of the (2 + 1)-dimensional time-space fractional nonlinear Schrödinger equation by applying the extended Riccati equation approach. The fractional model governs a range of physical processes, including fluid flow, plasma oscillation, and optical pulse transport. Utilizing the \(\:\beta\:\) -fractional derivative approach, several new soliton families and their associated dynamics are analytically obtained and discussed. The study extracts diverse soliton structures, such as periodic, anti-kink, bright, dark, and bell-type profiles, illustrating their physical attributes through comprehensive two- and three-dimensional graphical representations. Modulation instability analysis confirms the robustness of the derived solutions against minor spatiotemporal perturbations. Furthermore, bifurcation and phase-plane analyses reveal complex dynamical transitions, including the emergence of quasi-periodicity and chaotic motion under specific parametric conditions. By establishing an analytical foundation for multidimensional fractional wave propagation, this work advances the understanding of complex dynamical systems and highlights potential applications in optical fiber communications, signal processing, and advanced materials science.
