Soliton complexes and flat-top nonlinear modes in optical lattices

We describe a continuous analog of the quasirectangular flat-top nonlinear modes earlier found for discrete nonlinear models. We show that these novel nonlinear modes can be understood as multi-soliton complexes with either in-phase or out-of-phase neighboring solitons trapped by the periodic potential of the lattice. We demonstrate a link between the flat-top states and the truncated nonlinear Bloch waves, and discuss how these nonlinear localized modes can be monitored experimentally in photonics and Bose–Einstein condensates. PACS 42.65.Tg; 42.65.Jx; 03.75.Lm