Interaction of soliton-like light beamsin second-order non-linear materials

We investigate numerically the interaction between two light beams, initially monochromatic, during the excitation of solitary waves in quadratically non-linear media. We show that the result of the interaction is strongly dependent on soliton oscillations occurring during excitation, generating a new class of threshold phenomena.     

Quadratic spatial soliton generation by seeded downconversion of a strong harmonic pump beam

Two-dimensional quadratic spatial solitons were generated experimentally near phase-matching conditions for type II frequency doubling in KTP by the seeding of a strong second-harmonic field with a weak input at the fundamental wavelength. The self-trapped beams were shown to be insensitive to the energy, phase, and polarization of the fundamental-frequency seed input beam.     

Propagation and stability of the stationary stripe nonlinear guided waves in a symmetric structure with a nonlinear film

Abstact The propagation and stability of the stationary stripe nonlinear guided waves in an antiwaveguide symmetric layered structure containing a nonlinear film are simulated numerically. The symmetric, antisymmetric and asymmetric modes are considered, in both Kerr-law and saturable instantaneous self-focusing nonlinearity cases. The numerical calculations support the statement that stationary stripe nonlinear guided waves are always unstable on propagation for Kerr-law nonlinearities and the use of saturable nonlinear films leads to stability on propagation for effective indices corresponding to the ascending branches of the nonlinear dispersion curves.     

Properties of type II quadratic solitons excited by imbalanced fundamental waves

It was shown experimentally for type II second-harmonic generation in KTP that the family of quadratic spatial solitons exists over a wide range of imbalances for the two fundamental wave inputs. The threshold for soliton formation was measured as a function of both phase mismatch and relative input fraction of the energy in the two fundamental polarizations. Launching unequal fundamental inputs led to an imbalanced three-coupled-field output composition.     

Modulational instability of a strip beam in a bulk type I quadratic medium

The evolution of a strip (one-dimensional) fundamental beam with propagation distance owing to spatial modulational instabilities was analyzed in a quadratic medium near type I phase matching. We obtained the gain coefficient for the modulational instability and showed that the wave evolves into a clean periodic sequence of solitary waves and does not reproduce the incident beam.     

Hybrid surface plasmon polaritons guided by ultrathin metal films

Hybrid surface plasmon polaritons propagating in a new configuration comprising an ultrathin metal film bounded by a positive birefringent crystal on one side and a glass material on the other side are investigated. The results show that the conditions for existence of such hybrid surface plasmon polaritons have a strong dependence on the structure parameters. This feature opens the way for a new type of optical sensor with directional sensitivity.     

Beam breakup and modulational instability in a bulk type I quadratic medium

The effect of a small modulation superimposed on a strip (1D) solitary wave propagating in a bulk quadratic medium was investigated both analytically and numerically near Type I phase matching. General, exact results were obtained. By using first order perturbation theory, we obtained the gain coefficient for the modulational instability and the modulation cut-off frequency and we investigated their dependence on various beam and material parameters. The wave evolves into a clean periodic sequence of solitary waves and does not reproduce the incident beam. We showed that the beam breakup observed experimentally is due entirely to noise induced modulational instability.