Gap solitons of spin-orbit-coupled Bose-Einstein condensates in $\mathcal{PT}$ periodic potential

We numerically investigate the gap solitons in Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) with spin-orbit coupling (SOC) in the parity-time ($\mathcal{PT}$)-symmetric periodic potential. We find that the depths and periods of the imaginary lattice have an important influence on the shape and stability of these single-peak gap solitons and double-peak gap solitons in the first band gap. The dynamics of these gap solitons are checked by the split-time-step Crank-Nicolson method. It is proved that the depths of the imaginary part of the $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric periodic potential gradually increase, and the gap solitons become unstable. But the different periods of imaginary part hardly affect the stability of the gap solitons in the corresponding parameter interval.     

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.     

Multicolor lattice solitons

We report on the existence of multicolor solitons supported by periodic lattices made from quadratic nonlinear media. Such lattice solitons bridge the gap between continuous solitons in uniform media and discrete solitons in strongly localized systems and exhibit a wealth of new features. We discovered that, in contrast to uniform media, multipeaked lattice solitons are stable. Thus they open new opportunities for all-optical switching based on soliton packets.     

Spatial soliton switching in quasi-continuous optical arrays

We report on the phenomenon of trapping and switching of one-dimensional spatial solitons in Kerr-type nonlinear media with transverse periodic modulation of the refractive index. The solitons slowly radiate upon propagation along the periodic structure and are finally trapped in one of its guiding channels. The position of the output channel can be varied by small changes in the launching angle.     

Radiation from band-gap solitons

We investigate band-gap solitons, i.e. the solitons in Kerr-nonlinear media with periodic in space modulation of potential, and show that they are unstable for their eigenfrequencies around the middle of the band-gap, i.e. radiate into mode continua of the upper and lower bands. We identify the mechanism of four-wave mixing that causes the radiation of solitons. We also show that the gap solitons self-stabilize by losing their mass due to the radiation and thus recoil into the non-radiative area of the band-gap.     

Matter-wave bright solitons: Internal atomic recombination and external feeding

We consider matter-wave bright solitons in the presence of three-body atomic recombination, an axial periodic modulation and a feeding term, and use a variational method to derive conditions to have dynamically stabilized solitons due to compensation between the dissipation and alimentation of atoms from external sources. We critically examine how the BEC soliton is affected by the imbalance between the internal atom loss and external feeding. We pay special attention to study the influence of these terms on the soliton dynamics in optical lattice potentials that cause periodic modulation.     

Solitons in thermal media with periodic modulation of linear refractive index

We address the existence and properties of solitons in thermal media with periodic modulation of linear refractive index. Many kinds of solitons in such optical lattices, including symmetric and antisymmetric lattices, are found under different conditions. We study the influence of the refractive index difference between two different layers on solitons. It is also found that there do not exist cutoff value of propagation constant and soliton power for shifted lattice solitons. In addition, the solitons launched away from their stationary position may propagate without oscillation when the confinement from lattices is strong.     

Packing, unpacking, and steering of multicolor solitons in optical lattices

We discuss potential applications of multicolor solitons supported by periodic lattices imprinted in quadratic nonlinear media. Such lattice solitons can be packed together with appropriate relative phases to form stable soliton trains that can be treated as bit sequences. We describe controllable splitting of the trains into their soliton constituents and the angle- and power-controlled steering and trapping of solitons moving across the lattice into the desired guiding channel.     

Observation of second-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.     

Multiband vector lattice solitons

We predict multiband vector solitons in nonlinear periodic systems, using photonic lattices as a prime example. The solitons consist of two optical fields arising from different bands of the transmission spectrum, which involve both bound state and radiation mode components.     

Fission and Fusion of Two Bright Solitons in a Growing Bose--Einstein Condensate

We analytically study the interaction characteristics of two bright solitons in a one-dimensional growing Bose- Einstein condensate with time-dependent periodic atomic scattering length. It is shown that the interaction between two bright solitons can generate fission and fusion in the presence of both time-dependent periodic atomic scattering length and the growing case. Furthermore, we propose experimental protocols to realize these interaction phenomena by varying the scattering length via the Feshbach resonance in the future experiment.     

Generation and stability of discrete gap solitons

We analyze stability and generation of discrete gap solitons in weakly coupled optical waveguides. We demonstrate how both stable and unstable solitons can be observed experimentally in the engineered binary waveguide arrays and also reveal a connection between the gap-soliton instabilities and limitations on the mutual beam focusing in periodic photonic structures.     

Dynamic stability and manipulation of bright matter-wave solitons by optical lattices in Bose-Einstein condensates

An extended variation approach to describing the dynamic evolution of self-attractive Bose-Einstein condensates is developed. We consider bright matter-wave solitons in the presence of a parabolic magnetic potential and a time-space periodic optical lattice. The dynamics of condensates is shown to be well approximated by four coupled nonlinear differential equations. A noteworthy feature is that the extended variation approach gives a critical strength ratio to support multiple stable lattice sites for the condensate. We further examine the existence of the solitons and their stabilities at the multiple stable lattice sites. In this case, the analytical predictions of Bose-Einstein condensates variational dynamics are found to be in good agreement with numerical simulations. We then find a stable region for successful manipulating matter-wave solitons without collapse, which are dragged from an initial stationary to a prescribed position by a moving periodic optical lattice.     

Quantization of sine-Gordon solitons on the circle: Semiclassical vs. exact results

We consider the semiclassical quantization of sine-Gordon solitons on the circle with periodic and anti-periodic boundary conditions. The 1-loop quantum corrections to the mass of the solitons are determined using zeta function regularization in the integral representation. We compare the semiclassical results with exact numerical calculations in the literature and find excellent agreement even outside the plain semiclassical regime.     

Random-phase solitons in nonlinear periodic lattices

We predict the existence of random phase solitons in nonlinear periodic lattices. These solitons exist when the nonlinear response time is much longer than the characteristic time of random phase fluctuations. The intensity profiles, power spectra, and statistical (coherence) properties of these stationary waves conform to the periodicity of the lattice. The general phenomenon of such solitons is analyzed in the context of nonlinear photonic lattices.     

Composite band-gap solitons in nonlinear optically induced lattices

We introduce novel optical solitons that consist of a periodic and a spatially localized component coupled nonlinearly via cross-phase modulation. The spatially localized optical field can be treated as a gap soliton supported by the optically induced nonlinear grating. We find different types of these band-gap composite solitons and demonstrate their dynamical stability.     

Vortex lattice solitons supported by localized gain

We show that localized gain supports the existence of dissipative vortex solitons in periodic Kerr media with strong two-photon absorption. Vortex solitons exist in both focusing and defocusing media, with their propagation constants emerging from semi-infinite or finite gaps in the lattice spectrum. Coincidence of the discrete rotational symmetries of the gain landscape and refractive index distribution is a necessary condition for exciting vortex solitons, which otherwise transform into stable dissipative multipoles.     

Multipole-mode surface solitons

We discover multipole-mode solitons supported by the surface between two distinct periodic lattices imprinted in Kerr-type nonlinear media. Such solitons are possible because the refractive index modulation at both sides of the interface glues together their out-of-phase individual constituents. Remarkably, we find that the new type of solitons may feature highly asymmetric shapes, and yet they are stable over wide domains of their existence, a rare property to be attributed to their surface nature.     

Discrete solitons in inhomogeneous waveguide arrays

The existence and dynamical properties of discrete solitons in inhomogeneous waveguide arrays with a Kerr nonlinearity are studied in two different configurations. First we investigate the effect of a longitudinal periodic modulation of the coupling strength on the dynamics of discrete solitons. It is shown that resonances of internal modes of the soliton with the longitudinal structure may lead to soliton oscillations and decay. Second we study the existence and stability of discrete solitons in arrays exhibiting a linear variation of the waveguide effective index in the transverse direction. We find that resonant coupling between conventional discrete solitons and linear Wannier-Stark states leads to the formation of so-called hybrid discrete solitons.     

Incoherent solitons in strongly nonlocal media: The coherent density theory

We study the properties of one dimension incoherent accessible solitons in strongly nonlocal media with noninstantaneous Kerr nonlinearity. Following the coherent density theory, we obtain an exact solution of such incoherent solitons. The spatial width of the incoherent solitons is related to the incoherent angular power spectrum θ₀ as well as the incident power. The evolution properties of the intensity profile and the coherence characteristics are also discussed in detail when the solitons undergo periodic harmonic oscillation.