Surface defect solitons at interfaces between dual-frequency and simple lattices

We reveal theoretically the existence and stability of surface defect solitons (SDSs) at interfaces between dual-frequency and simple lattices with focusing saturable nonlinearity. Solitons with some unique properties exist in such composite structures with the change of defect intensity. For zero defect or positive defect, the surface solitons exist at the semi-infinite gap and cannot exist in the first gap, and solitons are stable at lower power but unstable at high power. For the case of negative defect, the surface solitons exist not only in the semi-infinite gap, but also in the first gap. With increasing the defect depth, the stable region of surface solitons becomes narrower in the semi-infinite gap, these solitons are stable within a moderate power region in the first gap within unstable solitons in the entire semi-infinite gap.     

Dispersive shock waves in nonlinear arrays

We experimentally study dispersive shock waves in nonlinear waveguide arrays. In contrast with gap solitons, the nonlinearity here pushes the propagation constant further into the transmission bands, facilitating Bloch mode coupling and energy transport. We directly observe this coupling, both within and between bands, by recording intensity in position space and power spectra in momentum space.     

Multidimensional semi-gap solitons in a periodic potential

The existence, stability and other dynamical properties of a new type of multi-dimensional (2D or 3D) solitons supported by a transverse low-dimensional (1D or 2D, respectively) periodic potential in the nonlinear Schr?dinger equation with the self-defocusing cubic nonlinearity are studied. The equation describes propagation of light in a medium with normal group-velocity dispersion (GVD). Strictly speaking, solitons cannot exist in the model, as its spectrum does not support a true bandgap. Nevertheless, the variational approximation (VA) and numerical computations reveal stable solutions that seem as completely localized ones, an explanation to which is given. The solutions are of the gap-soliton type in the transverse direction(s), in which the periodic potential acts in combination with the diffraction and self-defocusing nonlinearity. Simultaneously, in the longitudinal (temporal) direction these are ordinary solitons, supported by the balance of the normal GVD and defocusing nonlinearity. Stability of the solitons is predicted by the VA, and corroborated by direct simulations.     

Discrete gap solitons in a diffraction-managed waveguide array

A model including two nonlinear chains with linear and nonlinear couplings between them, and opposite signs of the discrete diffraction inside the chains, is introduced. In the case of the cubic [ χ⁽³⁾] nonlinearity, the model finds two different interpretations in terms of optical waveguide arrays, based on the diffraction-management concept. A continuum limit of the model is tantamount to a dual-core nonlinear optical fiber with opposite signs of dispersions in the two cores. Simultaneously, the system is equivalent to a formal discretization of the standard model of nonlinear optical fibers equipped with the Bragg grating. A straightforward discrete second-harmonic-generation [ χ⁽²⁾] model, with opposite signs of the diffraction at the fundamental and second harmonics, is introduced too. Starting from the anti-continuum (AC) limit, soliton solutions in the χ⁽³⁾ model are found, both above the phonon band and inside the gap. Solitons above the gap may be stable as long as they exist, but in the transition to the continuum limit they inevitably disappear. On the contrary, solitons inside the gap persist all the way up to the continuum limit. In the zero-mismatch case, they lose their stability long before reaching the continuum limit, but finite mismatch can have a stabilizing effect on them. A special procedure is developed to find discrete counterparts of the Bragg-grating gap solitons. It is concluded that they exist at all the values of the coupling constant, but are stable only in the AC and continuum limits. Solitons are also found in the χ⁽²⁾ model. They start as stable solutions, but then lose their stability. Direct numerical simulations in the cases of instability reveal a variety of scenarios, including spontaneous transformation of the solitons into breather-like states, destruction of one of the components (in favor of the other), and symmetry-breaking effects. Quasi-periodic, as well as more complex, time dependences of the soliton amplitudes are also observed as a result of the instability development. Received 14 September 2002 / Received in final form 4 February 2003 Published online 24 April 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: malomed@eng.tau.ac.il     

Controlled generation and steering of spatial gap solitons

We demonstrate the first fully controlled generation of immobile and slow spatial gap solitons in nonlinear periodic systems with band-gap spectra, and observe the key features of gap solitons that distinguish them from discrete solitons, including a dynamical transformation of gap solitons due to nonlinear interband coupling. We also describe theoretically and confirm experimentally the effect of the anomalous steering of gap solitons in optically induced photonic lattices.     

Defect solitons supported by the interface between simple lattices and superlattices

We study surface defect solitons (SDSs) at an interface between superlattices and simple lattices with focusing saturable nonlinearity. The properties of the SDSs formed in such kinds of mixed structures are obviously different from those in single superlattices or single ordinary lattices. Research results show that surface solitons with a zero defect or a positive defect are stable in the semi-infinite gap and cannot exist in the first gap. For the case of a negative defect, the stable region of surface solitons will be narrower in the semi-infinite gap with the increase of the defect depth. Surface gap solitons (SGSs) can stably exist in the first gap for a deeper negative defect depth.     

Solitary pulses in linearly coupled Ginzburg-Landau equations

This article presents a brief review of dynamical models based on systems of linearly coupled complex Ginzburg-Landau (CGL) equations. In the simplest case, the system features linear gain, cubic nonlinearity (possibly combined with cubic loss), and group-velocity dispersion (GVD) in one equation, while the other equation is linear, featuring only intrinsic linear loss. The system models a dual-core fiber laser, with a parallel-coupled active core and an additional stabilizing passive (lossy) one. The model gives rise to exact analytical solutions for stationary solitary pulses (SPs). The article presents basic results concerning stability of the SPs; interactions between pulses are also considered, as are dark solitons (holes). In the case of the anomalous GVD, an unstable stationary SP may transform itself, via the Hopf bifurcation, into a stable localized breather. Various generalizations of the basic system are briefly reviewed too, including a model with quadratic (second-harmonic-generating) nonlinearity and a recently introduced model of a different but related type, based on linearly coupled CGL equations with cubic-quintic nonlinearity. The latter system features spontaneous symmetry breaking of stationary SPs, and also the formation of stable breathers.     

Dark Solitons for the Defocusing Cubic Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation with the Spatially Periodic Potential and Nonlinearity

We study the existence of dark solitons of the defocusing cubic nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) eqaution with the spatially-periodic potential and nonlinearity. Firstly, we propose six families of upper and lower solutions of the dynamical systems arising from the stationary defocusing NLS equation. Secondly, by regarding a dark soliton as a heteroclinic orbit of the Poincaré map, we present some constraint conditions for the periodic potential and nonlinearity to show the existence of stationary dark solitons of the defocusing NLS equation for six different cases in terms of the theory of strict lower and upper solutions and the dynamics of planar homeomorphisms. Finally, we give the explicit dark solitons of the defocusing NLS equation with the chosen periodic potential and nonlinearity.     

Surface superlattice gap solitons

We demonstrate that specific surface superlattice gap solitons can be supported at an interface between a one-dimensional photonic superlattice and a uniform medium with saturable nonlinearity. The solitons are stable in the semi-infinite gap but do not exist in the first gap. With the decrease of the power, the solitons jump from the surface site to the next one, and they may continue the motion into the lattices, which offers potential applications for the routing of optical signals.     

Solitons in a system of three linearly coupled fiber gratings

We introduce a model of three parallel-coupled nonlinear waveguiding cores equipped with Bragg gratings (BGs), which form an equilateral triangle. The most promising way to create multi-core BG configuration is to use inverted gratings, written on internal surfaces of relatively broad holes embedded in a photonic-crystal-fiber matrix. The objective of the work is to investigate solitons and their stability in this system. New results are also obtained for the earlier investigated dual-core system. Families of symmetric and antisymmetric solutions are found analytically, extending beyond the spectral gap in both the dual- and tri-core systems. Moreover, these families persist in the case (strong coupling between the cores) when there is no gap in the systems linear spectrum. Three different types of asymmetric solitons are found (by means of the variational approach and numerical methods) in the tri-core system. They exist only inside the spectral gap, but asymmetric solitons with nonvanishing tails are found outside the gap as well. Stability of the solitons is explored by direct simulations, and, for symmetric solitons, in a more rigorous way too, by computation of eigenvalues for small perturbations. The symmetric solitons are stable up to points at which two types of asymmetric solitons bifurcate from them. Beyond the bifurcation, one type of the asymmetric solitons is stable, and the other is not. Then, they swap their stability. Asymmetric solitons of the third type are always unstable. When the symmetric solitons are unstable, their instability is oscillatory, and, in most cases, it transforms them into stable breathers. In both the dual- and tri-core systems, the stability region of the symmetric solitons extends far beyond the gap, persisting in the case when the system has no gap at all. The whole stability region of antisymmetric solitons (a new type of solutions in the tri-core system) is located outside the gap. Thus, solitons in multi-core BGs can be observed experimentally in a much broader frequency band than in the single-core one, and in a wider parameter range than it could be expected. Asymmetric delocalized solitons, found outside the spectral gap, can be stable too.Received: 13 August 2003PACS: 42.81.Dp Propagation, scattering, and losses; solitons - 42.65.Tg Optical solitons; nonlinear guided waves - 05.45.Yv Solitons     

Stationary wave packets in the Kerr nonlinear media with imaginary harmonic potential and linear gain

The existence of stationary wave packets in the nonlinear Kerr media with an imaginary harmonic potential and a linear gain is investigated. By employing a variational approach the existence of stable bright solitons is shown for the case of a defocusing nonlinearity. In focusing nonlinear media, the bright solitons have been shown to be unstable. The predictions of variational approach are confirmed by numerical simulations of the full modified NLS equation. The predicted stationary localized wave packets can be observed in a quasi-one-dimensional BEC with an imaginary optical potential and atoms feeding.     

Surface defect gap solitons in two-dimensional optical lattices

We investigate the existence and stability of surface defect gap solitons at an interface between a defect in a two-dimensional optical lattice and a uniform saturable Kerr nonlinear medium. The surface defect embedded in the two-dimensional optical lattice gives rise to some unique properties. It is interestingly found that for the negative defect, stable surface defect gap solitons can exist both in the semi-infinite gap and in the first gap. The deeper the negative defect, the narrower the stable region in the semi-infinite gap will be. For a positive defect, the surface defect gap solitons exist only in the semi-infinite gap and the stable region localizes in a low power region.     

Interface kink solitons in defocusing saturable nonlinear media

We report on the dynamics of semi-localized nonlinear optical modes supported by an interface separating a uniform defocusing saturable medium and an imprinted semi-infinite photonic lattice. Out-of-phase and in-phase kink solitons composed by dark-soliton-like pedestals and oscillatory tails are found. Two branches of out-of-phase kink solitons exist in shallow lattices. Saturable nonlinearity enhances the pedestal height and renormalized energy flow of kink solitons evidently. While in-phase kink solitons are always unstable, out-of-phase kink solitons will be completely stable provided that lattice depth exceeds a critical value. Furthermore, stable kink solitons in the higher band gaps are also possible. Our results may give a helpful hint for understanding the dynamics of kink solitons with high pedestals in other fields.     

Single- and multi-peak solitons in two-component models of metamaterials and photonic crystals

We report results of the study of solitons in a system of two nonlinear-Schrödinger (NLS) equations coupled by the XPM interaction, which models the co-propagation of two waves in metamaterials (MMs). The same model applies to photonic crystals (PCs), as well as to ordinary optical fibers, close to the zero-dispersion point. A peculiarity of the system is a small positive or negative value of the relative group-velocity dispersion (GVD) coefficient in one equation, assuming that the dispersion is anomalous in the other. In contrast to earlier studied systems of nonlinearly coupled NLS equations with equal GVD coefficients, which generate only simple single-peak solitons, the present model gives rise to families of solitons with complex shapes, which feature extended oscillatory tails and/or a double-peak structure at the center. Regions of existence are identified for single- and double-peak bimodal solitons, demonstrating a broad bistability in the system. Behind the existence border, they degenerate into single-component solutions. Direct simulations demonstrate stability of the solitons in the entire existence regions. Effects of the group-velocity mismatch (GVM) and optical loss are considered too. It is demonstrated that the solitons can be stabilized against the GVM by means of the respective “management” scheme. Under the action of the loss, complex shapes of the solitons degenerate into simple ones, but periodic compensation of the loss supports the complexity.     

Gap solitons in metamaterials

Electromagnetic localization and the existence of gap solitons in nonlinear metamaterials, which exhibit a stop band in their linear spectral response, is theoretically investigated. For a self-focusing Kerr nonlinearity, the equation for the electric field envelope with carrier frequency in the stop band—where the magnetic permeability µ(?) is positive and the dielectric permittivity ε(?) is negative—is described by a nonlinear Klein-Gordon equation with a dispersive nonlinear term. A family of standing and moving localized waves for both electric and magnetic fields is found, and the role played by the nonlinear dispersive term on solitary wave stability is discussed.     

Gap soliton in a waveguide array with a saturating defocusing nonlinearity

We investigate radiation of the solitary waves in the first band gap of the waveguide array with a defocusing nonlinearities of different types (Kerr nonlinearity and saturating nonlinearity). We confirm recent findings that gap solitons (GSs) are unstable for their eigenfrequencies around the middle of the band gap for Kerr nonlinearity. The instability is mediated by four-wave mixing process and appears in the form of radiation of solitons into mode continua of the upper and lower bands. We find that this soliton radiation is reduced (and even suppressed completely) in case of a saturating nonlinearity, resulting in substantial stabilization of the GSs.     

Soliton models in resonant and nonresonant optical fibers

In this review, considering the important linear and nonlinear optical effects like group velocity dispersion, higher order dispersion, Kerr nonlinearity, self-steepening, stimulated Raman scattering, birefringence, self-induced transparency and various inhomogeneous effects in fibers, the completely integrable concept and bright, dark and self-induced transparency soliton models in nonlinear fiber optics are discussed. Considering the above important optical effects, the different completely integrable soliton models in the form of nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS), NLS-Maxwell-Bloch (MB) type equations reported in the literature are discussed. Finally, solitons in stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) system is briefly discussed.     

Stability of Bragg grating solitons in a cubic-quintic nonlinear medium with dispersive reflectivity

We investigate the existence and stability of Bragg grating solitons in a cubic-quintic medium with dispersive reflectivity. It is found that the model supports two disjoint families of solitons. One family can be viewed as the generalization of the Bragg grating solitons in Kerr nonlinearity with dispersive reflectivity. On the other hand, the quintic nonlinearity is dominant in the other family. Stability regions are identified by means of systematic numerical stability analysis. In the case of the first family, the size of the stability region increases up to moderate values of dispersive reflectivity. However for the second family (i.e. region where quintic nonlinearity dominates), the size of the stability region increases even for strong dispersive reflectivity. For all values of m, there exists a subset of the unstable solitons belonging to the first family for which the instability development leads to deformation and subsequent splitting of the soliton into two moving solitons with different amplitudes and velocities.     

Surface defect gap solitons in superlattices with self-defocusing nonlinearity

We put forward the existence and stability of defect surface gap solitons at the interface between uniform media and an superlattice with self-defocusing nonlinearity. We reveal that the defect plays the significant role in controlling the region of solitons existing. Various solitons are found to be existed in different gaps for different defects. For positive defects, fundamental solitons can exist stably in the semi-infinite gap, and dipole solitons can exist stably in the first gap but they are unstable in the second gap. For zero or negative defects, fundamental and dipole solitons can exist stably in the first gap and the second gap, respectively.