Stable high-dimensional solitons in nonlocal competing cubic-quintic nonlinear media

We find and stabilize high-dimensional dipole and quadrupole solitons in nonlocal competing cubic-quintic nonlinear media. By adjusting the propagation constant, cubic, and quintic nonlinear coefficients, the stable intervals for dipole and quadrupole solitons that are parallel to the x-axis and those after rotating 45° counterclockwise around the origin of coordinate are found. For the dipole solitons and those after rotation, their stability is controlled by the propagation constant, the coefficients of cubic and quintic nonlinearity. The stability of quadrupole solitons is controlled by the propagation constant and the coefficient of cubic nonlinearity, rather than the coefficient of quintic nonlinearity, though there is a small effect of the quintic nonlinear coefficient on the stability. Our proposal may provide a way to generate and stabilize some novel high-dimensional nonlinear modes in a nonlocal system.     

1D Solitons in Saturable Nonlinear Media with Space Fractional Derivatives

Two decades ago, standard quantum mechanics entered into a new territory called space-fractional quantum mechanics, in which wave dynamics and effects are described by the fractional Schrödinger equation. Such territory is now a key and hot topic in diverse branches of physics, particularly in optics driven by the recent theoretical proposal for emulating the fractional Schrödinger equation. However, the light-wave propagation in saturable nonlinear media with space fractional derivatives is yet to be clearly disclosed. Here, such nonlinear optics phenomenon is theoretically investigated based on the nonlinear fractional Schrödinger equation with nonlinear lattices—periodic distributions of either focusing cubic (Kerr) or quintic saturable nonlinearities—and the existence and evolution of localized wave structures allowed by the model are addressed. The model upholds two kinds of one-dimensional soliton families, including fundamental solitons (single peak) and higher-order solitonic structures consisting of two-hump solitons (in-phase) and dipole ones (anti-phase). Notably, the dipole solitons can be robust stable physical objects localized merely within a single well of the nonlinear lattices—previously thought impossible. Linear-stability analysis and direct simulations are executed for both soliton families, and their stability regions are acquired. The predicted solutions can be readily observed in optical experiments and beyond.     

Self-trapped spatially localized states in combined linear-nonlinear periodic potentials

We analyze the existence and stability of two kinds of self-trapped spatially localized gap modes,gap solitons and truncated nonlinear Bloch waves,in one-and two-dimensional optical or matter-wave media with self-focusing nonlinearity,supported by a combination of linear and nonlinear periodic lattice potentials.The former is found to be stable once placed inside a single well of the nonlinear lattice,it is unstable otherwise.Contrary to the case with constant self-focusing nonlinearity,where the latter solution is always unstable,here,we demonstrate that it nevertheless can be stabilized by the nonlinear lattice since the model under consideration combines the unique properties of both the linear and nonlinear lattices.The practical possibilities for experimental realization of the predicted solutions are also discussed.     

Stable spinning optical solitons in three dimensions

We introduce spatiotemporal spinning solitons (vortex tori) of the three-dimensional nonlinear Schr?dinger equation with focusing cubic and defocusing quintic nonlinearities. The first ever found completely stable spatiotemporal vortex solitons are demonstrated. A general conclusion is that stable spinning solitons are possible as a result of competition between focusing and defocusing nonlinearities.     

The 3D solitons and vortices in 3D discrete monatomic lattices with cubic and quartic nonlinearity

By virtue of the method of multiple-scale and the quasi-discreteness approach, we have discussed the nonlinear vibration equation of a 3D discrete monatomic lattice with its nearest-neighbours interaction. The 3D simple cubic lattices have the same localized modes as a 1D discrete monatomic chain with cubic and quartic nonlinearity. The nonlinear vibration in the 3D simple cubic lattice has 3D distorted solitons and 3D envelop solitons in the direction of $k_{x}=k_{y}=k_{z}=k$ and $k=\pm \pi$/6$a_{0}$ in the Brillouin zone, as well as has 3D vortices in the direction of $k_{x}=k_{y}=k_{z}=k$ and $k=\pm \pi$/$a_{0}$ in the Brillouin zone.     

Stable radially symmetric and azimuthally modulated vortex solitons supported by localized gain

We discover that a spatially localized gain supports stable vortex solitons in media with cubic nonlinearity and two-photon absorption. The interplay between nonlinear losses and gain in amplifying rings results in the suppression of otherwise ubiquitous azimuthal modulation instabilities of radially symmetric vortex solitons. We find that the topology of the gain profile imposes restrictions on the maximal possible charge of vortex solitons. Symmetry breaking occurs at high gain levels, resulting in the formation of necklace vortex solitons composed of asymmetric bright spots.     

Numerical analysis of the stability of optical bullets (2 + 1) in a planar waveguide with cubic–quintic nonlinearity

In this paper, we have presented a numerical analysis of the stability of optical bullets (2 + 1), or spatiotemporal solitons (2 + 1), in a planar waveguide with cubic–quintic nonlinearity. The optical spatiotemporal solitons are the result of the balance between the nonlinear parameters, of dispersion (dispersion length, L _D) and diffraction (diffraction length, L _d) with temporal and spatial auto-focusing behavior, respectively. With the objective of ensure the stability and preventing the collapse or the spreading of pulses, in this study we explore the cubic–quintic nonlinearity with the optical fields coupled by cross-phase modulation and considering several values for the non linear parameter α We have shown the existence of stable light bullets in planar waveguide with cubic–quintic nonlinearity through the study of spatiotemporal collisions of the light bullets.     

Stabilization of two-dimensional solitons and vortices against supercritical collapse by lattice potentials

It is known that optical-lattice (OL) potentials can stabilize solitons and solitary vortices against the critical collapse, generated by cubic attractive nonlinearity in the 2D geometry. We demonstrate that OLs can also stabilize various species of fundamental and vortical solitons against the supercritical collapse, driven by the double-attractive cubic-quintic nonlinearity (however, solitons remain unstable in the case of the pure quintic nonlinearity). Two types of OLs are considered, producing similar results: the 2D Kronig-Penney “checkerboard”, and the sinusoidal potential. Soliton families are obtained by means of a variational approximation, and as numerical solutions. The stability of all families, which include fundamental and multi-humped solitons, vortices of oblique and straight types, vortices built of quadrupoles, and supervortices, strictly obeys the Vakhitov-Kolokolov criterion. The model applies to optical media and BEC in “pancake” traps.     

Fundamental solitons in discrete lattices with a delayed nonlinear response

The formation of unstaggered localized modes in dynamical lattices can be supported by the interplay of discreteness and nonlinearity with a finite relaxation time. In rapidly responding nonlinear media, on-site discrete solitons are stable, and their broad intersite counterparts are marginally stable, featuring a virtually vanishing real instability eigenvalue. The solitons become unstable in the case of the slowly relaxing nonlinearity. The character of the instability alters with the increase of the delay time, which leads to a change in the dynamics of unstable discrete solitons. They form robust localized breathers in rapidly relaxing media, and decay into oscillatory diffractive pattern in the lattices with a slow nonlinear response. Marginally stable solitons can freely move across the lattice.     

Multidimensional semi-gap solitons in a periodic potential

The existence, stability and other dynamical properties of a new type of multi-dimensional (2D or 3D) solitons supported by a transverse low-dimensional (1D or 2D, respectively) periodic potential in the nonlinear Schr?dinger equation with the self-defocusing cubic nonlinearity are studied. The equation describes propagation of light in a medium with normal group-velocity dispersion (GVD). Strictly speaking, solitons cannot exist in the model, as its spectrum does not support a true bandgap. Nevertheless, the variational approximation (VA) and numerical computations reveal stable solutions that seem as completely localized ones, an explanation to which is given. The solutions are of the gap-soliton type in the transverse direction(s), in which the periodic potential acts in combination with the diffraction and self-defocusing nonlinearity. Simultaneously, in the longitudinal (temporal) direction these are ordinary solitons, supported by the balance of the normal GVD and defocusing nonlinearity. Stability of the solitons is predicted by the VA, and corroborated by direct simulations.     

Three-dimensional vortex solitons in self-defocusing media

We demonstrate that families of vortex solitons are possible in a bidispersive three-dimensional nonlinear Schr?dinger equation. These solutions can be considered as extensions of two-dimensional dark vortex solitons which, along the third dimension, remain localized due to the interplay between dispersion and nonlinearity. Such vortex solitons can be observed in optical media with normal dispersion, normal diffraction, and defocusing nonlinearity.     

Solitons pinned to hot spots

We generalize a recently proposed model based on the cubic complex Ginzburg-Landau (CGL) equation, which gives rise to stable dissipative solitons supported by localized gain applied at a “hot spot” (HS), in the presence of the linear loss in the bulk. We introduce a model with the Kerr nonlinearity concentrated at the HS, together with the local gain and, possibly, with the local nonlinear loss. The model, which may be implemented in laser cavities based on planar waveguides, gives rise to exact solutions for pinned dissipative solitons. In the case when the HS does not include the localized nonlinear loss, numerical tests demonstrate that these solitons are stable/unstable if the localized nonlinearity is self-defocusing/focusing. Another new setting considered in this work is a pair of two symmetric HSs. We find exact asymmetric solutions for it, although they are unstable. Numerical simulations demonstrate that stable modes supported by the HS pair tend to be symmetric. An unexpected conclusion is that the interaction between breathers pinned to two broad HSs, which are the only stable modes in isolation in that case, transforms them into a static symmetric mode.     

Stable ring-profile vortex solitons in bessel optical lattices

Stable ring-profile vortex solitons, featuring a bright shape, appear to be very rare in nature. However, here we show that they exist and can be made dynamically stable in defocusing cubic nonlinear media with an imprinted Bessel optical lattice. We find the families of vortex solitons and reveal their salient properties, including the conditions required for their stability. We show that the higher the soliton topological charge, the deeper the lattice modulation necessary for stabilization.     

空间调制作用下Bessel型光晶格中物质波孤立子的稳定性

利用变分法和数值计算方法研究了空间调制作用下Bessel型光晶格中玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚体系中孤立子的稳定性, 给出了存在随空间非周期变化的线性Bessel型光晶格和非线性光晶格(原子之间非线性相互作用的空间调制)时, 各种参数组合下涡旋和非涡旋孤立子的稳定性条件. 首先, 利用圆对称的高斯型试探波函数得出描述体系稳定性参数满足的Euler-Lagrange方程和变分法分析体系稳定性所需要的有效作用势能的表达式. 然后, 根据有效作用势能是否具有局域最小值判断体系是否具有稳定状态, 得出体系具有稳定状态时参数所满足的条件. 最后, 利用有限差分法求解Gross-Pitaevskii方程验证变分法结果的正确性, 所得结果和变分法结果一致. 关键词： Bessel型光晶格 非线性光晶格 孤立子 稳定性     

Stable helical solitons in optical media

We present a review of new results which suggest the existence of fully stable spinning solitons (self-supporting localised objects with an internal vorticity) in optical fibres with self-focusing Kerr (cubic) nonlinearity, and in bulk media featuring a combination of the cubic self-defocusing and quadratic nonlinearities. Their distinctive difference from other optical solitons with an internal vorticity, which were recently studied in various optical media, theoretically and also experimentally, is that all the spinning solitons considered thus far have been found to be unstable against azimuthal perturbations. In the first part of the paper, we consider solitons in a nonlinear optical fibre in a region of parameters where the fibre carries exactly two distinct modes, viz., the fundamental one and the first-order helical mode. From the viewpoint of application to communication systems, this opens the way to doubling the number of channels carried by a fibre. Besides that, these solitons are objects of fundamental interest. To fully examine their stability, it is crucially important to consider collisions between them, and their collisions with fundamental solitons, in (ordinary or hollow) optical fibres. We introduce a system of coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations for the fundamental and helical modes with nonstandard values of the cross-phase-modulation coupling constants, and show, in analytical and numerical forms, results of collisions between solitons carried by the two modes. In the second part of the paper, we demonstrate that the interaction of the fundamental beam with its second harmonic in bulk media, in the presence of self-defocusing Kerr nonlinearity, gives rise to the first ever example of completely stable spatial ring-shaped solitons with intrinsic vorticity. The stability is demonstrated both by direct simulations and by analysis of linearized equations.     

Exact solutions for bright and dark solitons in spatially inhomogeneous nonlinearity

We present exact analytical results for bright and dark solitons in a type of one-dimensional spatially inhomogeneous nonlinearity. We show that the competition between a homogeneous self-defocusing (SDF) nonlinearity and a localized self-focusing (SF) nonlinearity supports stable fundamental bright solitons. For a specific choice of the nonlinear parameters, exact analytical solutions for fundamental bright solitons have been obtained. By applying both variational approximation and Vakhitov-Kolokolov stability criterion, it is found that exact fundamental bright solitons are stable. Our analytical results are also confirmed numerically. Additionally, we show that a homogeneous SF nonlinearity modulated by a localized SF nonlinearity allows the existence of exact dark solitons, for certain special cases of nonlinear parameters. By making use of linear stability analysis and direct numerical simulation, it is found that these exact dark solitons are linearly unstable.     

Surface solitons in trilete lattices

Fundamental solitons pinned to the interface between three semi-infinite one-dimensional nonlinear dynamical chains, coupled at a single site, are investigated. The light propagation in the respective system with the self-attractive on-site cubic nonlinearity, which can be implemented as an array of nonlinear optical waveguides, is modeled by the system of three discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equations. The formation, stability and dynamics of symmetric and asymmetric fundamental solitons centered at the interface are investigated analytically by means of the variational approximation (VA) and in a numerical form. The VA predicts that two asymmetric and two antisymmetric branches exist in the entire parameter space, while four asymmetric modes and the symmetric one can be found below some critical value of the inter-lattice coupling parameter—actually, past the symmetry-breaking bifurcation. At this bifurcation point, the symmetric branch is destabilized and two new asymmetric soliton branches appear, one stable and the other unstable. In this area, the antisymmetric branch changes its character, getting stabilized against oscillatory perturbations. In direct simulations, unstable symmetric modes radiate a part of their power, staying trapped around the interface. Highly unstable asymmetric modes transform into localized breathers traveling from the interface region across the lattice without significant power loss.     

Modulational instability and discrete breathers in the discrete cubic-quintic nonlinear Schrödinger equation

We investigate the properties of modulational instability and discrete breathers in the cubic-quintic discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation. We analyze the regions of modulational instabilities of nonlinear plane waves. Using the Page approach [J.B. Page, Phys. Rev. B 41 (1990) 7835], we derive the conditions for the existence and stability for bright discrete breather solutions. It is shown that the quintic nonlinearity brings qualitatively new conditions for stability of strongly localized modes. The application to the existence of localized modes in the Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) with three-body interactions in an optical lattice is discussed. The numerical simulations agree with the analytical predictions.     

Matter-wave vortices and solitons in anisotropic optical lattices

Using numerical methods, we construct families of vortical, quadrupole, and fundamental solitons in a two-dimensional (2D) nonlinear-Schrödinger/Gross-Pitaevskii equation which models Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) or photonic crystals. The equation includes the attractive or repulsive cubic nonlinearity and an anisotropic periodic potential. Two types of anisotropy are considered, accounted for by the difference in the strengths of the 1D sublattices, or by a difference in their periods. The limit case of the quasi-1D optical lattice (OL), when one sublattice is missing, is included too. By means of systematic simulations, we identify stability limits for two species of vortex solitons and quadrupoles, of the rhombus and square types. In the attraction model, rhombic vortices and quadrupoles remain stable up to the limit case of the quasi-1D lattice. In the same model, finite stability limits are found for vortices and quadrupoles of the square type, in terms of the anisotropy parameter. In the repulsion model, rhombic vortices and quadrupoles are stable in large parts of the first finite bandgap (FBG). Another species of partly stable anisotropic states is found in the second FBG, subfundamental dipoles, each squeezed into a single cell of the OL. Square-shaped quadrupoles are completely unstable in the repulsion model, while vortices of the same type are stable only in weakly anisotropic OL potentials.     

Power controlled soliton stability and steering in lattices with saturable nonlinearity

Dynamical properties of discrete solitons in nonlinear Schr?dinger lattices with saturable nonlinearity are studied in the framework of the one-dimensional discrete Vinetskii-Kukhtarev model. Two stationary strongly localized modes, centered on site (A) and between two neighboring sites (B), are obtained. The associated Peierls-Nabarro potential is bounded and has multiple zeros indicating strong implications on the stability and dynamics of the localized modes. Besides a stable propagation of mode A, a stable propagation of mode B is also possible. The enhanced ability of the large power solitons to move across the lattice is pointed out and numerically verified.