Spatial soliton pixels from partially incoherent light

We report what is to our knowledge the first observation of pixellike spatial solitons from partially spatially incoherent light. We created an array of as many as 32x32 soliton pixels by launching a spatially modulated incoherent light beam into a noninstantaneous self-focusing photorefraction medium. These solitons were stable and robust, forming a steady-state two-dimensional waveguide array in which optical coupling and control of local waveguide channels could be realized.     

Signal amplification based on the local nonlinear Mach–Zehnder interferometer

Using the phase modulation of spatial solitons, a new scheme for all-optical signal amplification has been proposed in this paper. The considered structure is composed of the nonlinear Mach–Zehnder interferometer (NMZI) with the straight control waveguide (CWG), the uniform nonlinear medium (NLM) and the linear output waveguide. The local NMZI functions like a phase shifter. The light-induced index changes in the local nonlinear MZI are responsible for the input beam routing in the uniform nonlinear medium. The coupling of the input beam to the output waveguide depends on its propagation direction in the NLM. It is shown that the signal launched at CWG can deflect the beam launched at the NMZI (input beam) and a modulated (amplified) output could be obtained at the output waveguide. Further, signal pulse may be reshaped by appropriately increasing the NLM length. In addition, amplification factor may be enhanced by increasing the NLM length and injecting an appropriate continuous wave beam along with the signal beam at CWG.     

Nonlinear dynamics with higher-order modes in lithium niobate waveguide arrays

We present theoretical and experimental studies on nonlinear beam propagation in lithium niobate waveguide arrays utilizing higher-order second harmonic bands. We find that the implementation of the higher-order second harmonic bands leads to a number of new effects. The combined interaction of two second harmonic bands with a propagating fundamental beam can lead to a complete inhibition of nonlinear effects or to the formation of discrete spatial solitons, depending only on the wavelength of the fundamental wave. Furthermore we analyze the properties of discrete solitons, allowing for linear coupling of the second harmonic. Here we predict and demonstrate experimentally a power dependent phase transition of the soliton topology.     

多个部分非相干光孤子的相互作用

基于相干密度理论，数值地研究了在饱和对数非线性介质中多个部分非相干光空间孤子之间的相互作用. 数值结果表明，在非相干参量较小情况下，非相干光孤子的相互作用与相干光孤子的相互作用规律较类似. 当非相干参量较大时，强的非相干性模糊了孤子之间的相位关系，孤子间的相互作用主要以非相干相互吸引作用为主. 特别是在非相干参量较大而且孤子初始相对相位差为π的情况下，多个部分非相干光孤子可并行传播形成稳定的阵列孤子. 利用多个非相干光孤子的不同相互作用形态写入各种阵列波导，为实现光控制光、导向光提供了一种可能性. 关键词： 多个部分非相干光空间孤子 空间光孤子的相互作用 相干密度理论 饱和对数非线性     

Slow-light spatial solitons

We numerically and experimentally report the observation of slow-light spatial solitons in a Kerr medium owing to light amplification by stimulated Raman scattering. This was achieved in a CS2 nonlinear planar waveguide that possesses both a strong self-focusing nonlinearity to generate the spatial Raman soliton and a Raman susceptibility sharp enough to induce the slow-light process simultaneously. We show that the Raman Stokes component is optically delayed by more than 120 ps for a 140 ps Raman pulse duration and only 3 cm of propagation length, while propagating as a spatial soliton beam.     

电磁感应透明介质中的弱光空间暗孤子环

利用多重尺度方法,解析地研究了Λ型三能级冷原子气及一束较强耦合光组成的电磁感应透明介质体系中的非线性动力学性质.结果表明：一束较弱的探测光能在电磁感应透明介质中形成弱光空间暗孤子,当弱光空间暗孤子沿轴向传播时,它会逐渐演化成一个稳定的弱光空间暗孤子环,这是衍射效应和自散焦效应相互平衡的结果. 关键词： 电磁感应透明 弱光空间暗孤子环 多重尺度方法     

Collisions of Two Spatial Solitons in Inhomogeneous Nonlinear Media

Collisions of spatial solitons occurring in the nonlinear Schröinger equation with harmonic potential are studied, using conservation laws and the split-step Fourier method. We find an analytical solution for the separation distance between the spatial solitons in an inhomogeneous nonlinear medium when the light beam is self-trapped in the transverse dimension. In the self-focusing nonlinear media the spatial solitons can be transmitted stably, and the interaction between spatial solitons is enhanced due to the linear focusing effect (and also diminished for the linear defocusing effect). In the self-defocusing nonlinear media, in the absence of self-trapping or in the presence of linear self-defocusing, no transmission of stable spatial solitons is possible. However, in such media the linear focusing effect can be exactly compensated, and the spatial solitons can propagate through.     

三能级冷原子介质中多个光孤子的相互作用

冷原子介质中的光孤子在电磁感应透明(EIT)的作用下表现出很多奇异的特性,对描述这些特性的理论模型的研究在光信号处理和传输方面具有重要的意义. 描述三能级冷原子EIT介质中空间孤立子演化的二维饱和非线性薛定谔方程被转化成辛结构的Hamilton系统, 利用辛几何算法离散Hamilton系统得到了相应离散的辛格式,并且利用辛格式数值模拟了三能级冷原子EIT介质中在相同振辐不同相位的两个、四个光孤子的相互作用行为. 数值实验结果表明: 冷原子介质中多个光孤子的相互作用行为不但与入射高斯光束的相位有关,还和入射高斯光束的方向有关. 入射的高斯光束能在冷原子介质中形成稳定的孤立子.     

Incoherent vector vortex-mode solitons in self-focusing nonlinear media

We suggest a novel type of composite spatial optical soliton created by a coherent vortex beam guiding a partially incoherent light beam in a self-focusing nonlinear medium. We show that the incoherence of the guided mode may enhance, rather than suppress, the vortex azimuthal instability, and we also demonstrate strong destabilization of dipole-mode solitons by partially incoherent light.     

The linear and nonlinear optical effects of white light

An overview of our research group’s experimental and theoretical developments is provided on the linear and nonlinear optical effects of white light since 2003. Their work includes the experimental researches on the white light one-dimensional photovoltaic dark spatial solitons and the waveguides and directional couplers induced by them, the circular and elliptic white-light dark spatial solitons and the white-light photorefractive phase masks, two-dimensional white-light photonic lattices and the applicati...     

Spatial optical solitons in inhomogeneous elliptic core saturating nonlinear fiber

We have investigated the propagation characteristics of spatial optical solitons in saturating nonlinear waveguide employing JWKB and paraxial ray approximation. We have obtained two second-order coupled nonlinear differential equations for transverse soliton widths of solitons. Threshold power for stable propagation of the beam has been calculated from these coupled equations. We have undertaken stability analysis, which predicts robustness of these solitons. Both guiding as well as antiguiding cases have been considered and shown that stable spatial soliton propagation is possible in both cases.     

Manipulating light flow with one-dimensional photonic crystals of an electromagnetically induced transparency medium

The band structures and equifrequency contours of one-dimensional photonic crystals (PCs), which consist of an electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) medium and a common dielectric medium, can be dramatically changed by tuning the coupling field intensity (or coupling Rabi frequency, CRF) of the EIT medium. It is found that for a probe light at a fixed frequency, either positive or negative refraction in the EIT PC can be realized with a proper CRF. The behavior of a Gaussian beam (probe light) obliquely incident on such an EIT PC slab is simulated numerically. The probe light beam transmitted from the slab can be shifted transversely in a large range, and negative refraction enhances this effect. The present scenario can be applied in some areas such as quantum optical and photonic device designs.     

Ultraslow optical solitons in a four-level tripod atomic system

We investigate possible formation and propagation of localized, shape-preserving nonlinear optical pulse in a resonant, lifetime-broadened four-level tripod atomic system via electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). We prove both analytically and numerically that although in anomalous dispersion regimes near resonance a superluminal optical soliton may appear, such soliton suffers serious absorption. However, by choosing appropriate parameters to make the system work in normal dispersion regimes and within an EIT transparency window, ultraslow optical solitons with very low light intensity can form and propagate stably in the system.     

Dynamic soliton-like modes

Incoherent optical spatial solitons require noninstantaneous nonlinearity, i.e., the local intensity fluctuation of the solitons must be faster than the medium can respond. Observing partially incoherent bicomponent solitons, we find that there exists a threshold speed. When the fluctuation of the soliton intensity, resulting from the time-varying interference of its constituent modes, is below the threshold, the soliton beam and its induced waveguide oscillate violently. Just above the threshold, the soliton-induced waveguide is observed to be dragged by the soliton beam.     

Transverse Effects in Slow Light Propagation

The effect of finite control beam on the transverse spatial profile of the slow light propagation in an electromagnetically induced transparency medium is studied. From the second-order wave equation and linear response of an EIT medium to the signal field, we find it is possible to produce an effective waveguide for the signal field. The existence and properties of a set of localized, stationary transverse modes are demonstrated. Especially, by carefully manipulating the profile of the control beam, we can realize single-mode propagation for the signal field, which may be important for potential applications.     

Multigap discrete vector solitons

We analyze nonlinear collective effects in periodic systems with multigap transmission spectra such as light in waveguide arrays or Bose-Einstein condensates in optical lattices. We reveal that the interband interactions in nonlinear periodic structures can be efficiently managed by controlling their geometry. We predict novel types of discrete vector solitons supported by nonlinear coupling between different band gaps and study their stability.     

Gap solitons in defocusing lithium niobate binary waveguide arrays fabricated by proton implantation and selective light illumination

Photovoltaic photorefractive binary waveguide arrays are fabricated by proton implantation and selective light illumination on top of an iron-doped near stoichiometric lithium niobate crystal. Linear discrete diffraction and nonlinear formation of gap solitons were investigated by single-channel excitation using Gaussian light beams coupled into either wide or narrow waveguide channels. The results show that, at low power, linear light propagation leads to discrete diffraction, whilst for higher input power the focusing mechanism dominates, finally leading to the formation of gap solitons in the binary waveguide arrays. Our simulation of light propagation based on a nonlinear beam propagation method confirms the experimental findings.     

Generation of spatial solitons using non-linear guided modes

We investigate how two-dimensional spatial optical solitons can be generated in a non-linear Kerr medium using the non-linear guided modes of a weakly-guiding slab waveguide with a linear core and a non-linear cladding as the source of excitation. Symmetric, antisymmetric and asymmetric non-linear modes are considered, from which we determine the parameters of single solitons, oscillating two-soliton bound states, and two repelling solitons, respectively. Both the beam propagation method and inverse scattering transform are used.     

Nonlinear evolution equations for surface plasmons for nano-focusing at a Kerr/metallic interface and tapered waveguide

Maxwell's equations for a metallic and nonlinear Kerr interface waveguide at the nanoscale can be approximated to a (1+1) D Nonlinear Schrodinger type model equation (NLSE) with appropriate assumptions and approximations. Theoretically, without losses or perturbations spatial plasmon solitons profiles are easily produced. However, with losses, the amplitude or beam profile is no longer stationary and adiabatic parameters have to be considered to understand propagation. For this model, adiabatic parameters are calculated considering losses resulting in linear differential coupled integral equations with constant definite integral coefficients not dependent on the transverse and longitudinal coordinates. Furthermore, by considering another configuration, a waveguide that is an M–NL–M (metal–nonlinear Kerr–metal) that tapers, the tapering can balance the loss experienced at a non-tapered metal/nonlinear Kerr interface causing attenuation of the beam profile, so these spatial plasmon solitons can be produced. In this paper taking into consideration the (1+1)D NLSE model for a tapered waveguide, we derive a one soliton solution based on He's Semi-Inverse Variational Principle (HPV).     

Break up of bound-N-spatial-soliton in a ramp waveguide

We present an analytical and numerical investigation of the propagation of spatial solitons in a nonlinear waveguide with ramp linear refractive index profile (ramp waveguide). For the propagation of a single soliton beam in a ramp waveguide, the particle theory shows that the soliton beam follows a parabolic curve in the region where the linear refractive index increases and a straight line outside the waveguide. The acceleration of the soliton depends on the beam intensity: higher amplitude solitons experience higher acceleration. Numerical calculations using an implicit Crank–Nicolson scheme confirm the result of the particle theory. Combining these propagation properties with the theory about bound-N-soliton, we study the break up of such a bound-N-soliton in a ramp waveguide. In a ramp waveguide, a bound-N-soliton will always be splitted into N independent solitons with the higher amplitude soliton emitted first. The amplitude of the separated solitons after break up are calculated using the soliton theory as if the solitons are independent. Numerical simulations show that the results agree quite well with this theoretical prediction, indicating that the interaction during break up has only little influence.