Nonlinear theory of transverse perturbations of quasi-one-dimensional solitons

An averaged variational principle is applied to analyze the nonlinear effect of transverse perturbations (including diffraction) on quasi-one-dimensional soliton propagation governed by various wave equations. It is shown that parameters of the spatiotemporal solitons described by the cubic Schrödinger equation and the Yajima-Oikawa model of interaction between long-and short-wavelength waves satisfy the spatial quintic nonlinear Schrödinger equation for a complex-valued function composed of the amplitude and eikonal of the soliton. Three-dimensional solutions are found for two-component “bullets” having long-and short-wavelength components. Vortex and hole-vortex structures are found for envelope solitons and for two-component solitons in the regime of resonant long/short-wave coupling. Weakly nonlinear behavior of transverse perturbations of one-dimensional soliton solutions in a self-defocusing medium is described by the Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation. The corresponding rationally localized “lump” solutions can be considered as secondary solitons propagating along the phase fronts of the primary solitons. This conclusion holds for primary solitons described by a broad class of nonlinear wave equations.