Two-dimensional matter-wave solitons and vortices in competing cubic-quintic nonlinear lattices

The nonlinear lattice — a new and nonlinear class of periodic potentials — was recently introduced to generate various nonlinear localized modes. Several attempts failed to stabilize two-dimensional (2D) solitons against their intrinsic critical collapse in Kerr media. Here, we provide a possibility for supporting 2D matter-wave solitons and vortices in an extended setting — the cubic and quintic model — by introducing another nonlinear lattice whose period is controllable and can be different from its cubic counterpart, to its quintic nonlinearity, therefore making a fully “nonlinear quasi-crystal”.A variational approximation based on Gaussian ansatz is developed for the fundamental solitons and in particular, their stability exactly follows the inverted Vakhitov–Kolokolov stability criterion, whereas the vortex solitons are only studied by means of numerical methods. Stability regions for two types of localized mode — the fundamental and vortex solitons — are provided. A noteworthy feature of the localized solutions is that the vortex solitons are stable only when the period of the quintic nonlinear lattice is the same as the cubic one or when the quintic nonlinearity is constant, while the stable fundamental solitons can be created under looser conditions. Our physical setting (cubic-quintic model) is in the framework of the Gross–Pitaevskii equation or nonlinear Schrödinger equation, the predicted localized modes thus may be implemented in Bose–Einstein condensates and nonlinear optical media with tunable cubic and quintic nonlinearities.     

Multi-peak solitons in PT-symmetric Bessel optical lattices with defects

This paper presents a theoretical analysis of the existence and stability of multi-peak solitons in parity–time-symmetric Bessel optical lattices with defects in nonlinear media. The results demonstrate that there always exists a critical propagation constant μ _c for the existence of multi-peak solitons regardless of whether the nonlinearity is self-focusing or self-defocusing. In self-focusing media, multi-peak solitons exist when the propagation constant μ > μ _c . In the self-defocusing case, solitons exist only when μ < μ _c . Only low-power solitons can propagate stably when random noise perturbations are present. Positive defects help stabilize the propagation of multi-peak solitons when the nonlinearity is self-focusing. When the nonlinearity is self-defocusing, however, multi-peak solitons in negative defects have wider stable regions than those in positive defects.     

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.     

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.     

Self-accelerating self-trapped optical beams

We present self-accelerating self-trapped beams in nonlinear optical media, exhibiting self-focusing and self-defocusing Kerr and saturable nonlinearities, as well as a quadratic response. In Kerr and saturable media such beams are stable under self-defocusing and weak self-focusing, whereas for strong self-focusing the beams off-shoot solitons while their main lobe continues to accelerate. Self-accelerating self-trapped wave packets are universal, and can also be found in matter waves, plasma, etc.     

Linear and nonlinear waveguides induced by optical vortex solitons

We study, numerically and analytically, linear and nonlinear waveguides induced by optical vortex solitons in a Kerr medium. Both fundamental and first-order guided modes are analyzed, as well as cases of effective defocusing and focusing nonlinearity.     

Do solitonlike self-similar waves exist in nonlinear optical media?

We show analytically that bright and dark spatial self-similar waves can propagate in graded-index amplifiers exhibiting self-focusing or self-defocusing Kerr nonlinearities. The intensity profiles of the novel waves are identical with those of fundamental bright or dark spatial solitons supported by homogeneous passive waveguides with the same type of nonlinearity. Thus, we reveal a previously unnoticed connection between spatial solitons and self-similar waves. We also suggest that the discovered self-similar waves can be used in a promising scheme for the amplification and focusing of spatial solitons in future all-optical networks.     

Peregrine solitons and algebraic soliton pairs in Kerr media considering space–time correction

Exact unified rational solutions describing a family of Peregrine solitons as well as related algebraic soliton pairs in either self-focusing or self-defocusing Kerr media are presented, with distinct defining regimes and an explicit relationship for those of opposite nonlinearity. The active role of the space–time correction effect that plays in these soliton species is highlighted, leading to unique dynamics such as the persistence of Peregrine solitons in a defocusing Kerr medium, the availability of giant peak amplitude for the bright–bright soliton pair, and the existence of so-called bright–dark soliton pair. The evolution dynamics of the algebraic two-soliton state toward a spliced single soliton is also discussed.     

Stability of vortex solitons in the cubic-quintic model

We investigate one-parameter families of two-dimensional bright spinning solitons (ring vortices) in dispersive media combining cubic self-focusing and quintic self-defocusing nonlinearities. In direct simulations, the spinning solitons display a symmetry-breaking azimuthal instability, which leads to breakup of a soliton into a set of fragments, each being a stable nonspinning soliton. The fragments fly out tangentially to the circular crest of the original vortex ring. If the soliton’s energy is large enough, the instability develops so slowly that the spinning solitons may be regarded as virtually stable ones, in accord with earlier published results. Growth rates of perturbation eigenmodes with different azimuthal “quantum numbers” are calculated as a function of the soliton’s propagation constant κ from a numerical solution of the linearized equations. As a result, a narrow (in terms of κ) stability window is found for extremely broad solitons with values of the “spin” s=1 and 2. However, analytical consideration of a special perturbation mode in the form of a spontaneous shift of the soliton’s central “bubble” (core of the vortex embedded in a broad soliton) demonstrates that even extremely broad solitons are subject to an exponentially weak instability against this mode. In actual simulations, a manifestation of this instability is found in a three-dimensional soliton with s=1. In the case when the two-dimensional spinning solitons are subject to tangible azimuthal instability, the number of the nonspinning fragments into which the soliton splits is usually, but not always, equal to the azimuthal number of the instability eigenmode with the largest growth rate.     

Surface defect gap solitons in superlattices with self-defocusing nonlinearity

We put forward the existence and stability of defect surface gap solitons at the interface between uniform media and an superlattice with self-defocusing nonlinearity. We reveal that the defect plays the significant role in controlling the region of solitons existing. Various solitons are found to be existed in different gaps for different defects. For positive defects, fundamental solitons can exist stably in the semi-infinite gap, and dipole solitons can exist stably in the first gap but they are unstable in the second gap. For zero or negative defects, fundamental and dipole solitons can exist stably in the first gap and the second gap, respectively.     

Nonparaxial (1 + 1)D spatial solitons in uniaxial media

We investigate nonparaxial spatial solitons in uniaxial media with a cubic nonlinearity, accounting for the fully vectorial electromagnetic perturbation and the longitudinal field component in the self-induced index well. We discuss the effective nonlocality arising in purely Kerr media and soliton self-steering owing to nonlinear changes in walk-off.     

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.     

Incoherent solitons in strongly nonlocal media: The coherent density theory

We study the properties of one dimension incoherent accessible solitons in strongly nonlocal media with noninstantaneous Kerr nonlinearity. Following the coherent density theory, we obtain an exact solution of such incoherent solitons. The spatial width of the incoherent solitons is related to the incoherent angular power spectrum θ₀ as well as the incident power. The evolution properties of the intensity profile and the coherence characteristics are also discussed in detail when the solitons undergo periodic harmonic oscillation.     

Optical soliton perturbation for time fractional resonant nonlinear Schrödinger equation with competing weakly nonlocal and full nonlinearity

In this article, we retrieve optical soliton solutions of the perturbed time fractional resonant nonlinear Schrödinger equation having competing weakly nonlocal and full nonlinearity. We study the equation for two different forms of nonlinearity, namely Kerr law and anti-cubic law. The F-expansion method along with fractional complex transformation is used to obtain the optical solitons. Moreover, the existence of these solitons are guaranteed with the constraint relations between the model coefficients and the traveling wave frequency coefficient.     

The evolution of two-frequency solitons in an optical fiber with a longitudinally nonuniform nonlinearity

The evolution of two-frequency solitons in an optical fiber, as well as the practically important special case of absence of the second-harmonic wave, in the presence of a longitudinal nonuniformity of the coefficients characterizing the propagation nonlinearity are considered. The solitons found for media with constant values of the nonlinearity coefficients are used as initial distributions for media with a periodic dependence of the nonlinearity coefficients on the longitudinal coordinate. Modulation of the coefficient of cubic or quadratic nonlinearity is shown to result in oscillations of the peak intensity of the solitons (in both their components if two-color solitons are considered). In the case of a weak modulation of the nonlinearity coefficients, oscillations of the peak intensity occur at the frequency coinciding with the frequency of modulation of the nonlinearity coefficients. Under the weak influence of a periodically modulated cubic nonlinearity, parameters of quadratic solitons also oscillate upon the propagation. Regions of stability of solitons in the space of the modulation parameters are established.     

Linear and nonlinear waves in surface and wedge index potentials

We study optical beams that are supported at the surface of a medium with a linear index potential and by a piecewise linear wedge-type potential. In the linear limit the modes are described by Airy functions. In the nonlinear regime we find families of solutions that bifurcate from the linear modes and study their stability for both self-focusing and self-defocusing Kerr nonlinearity. The total power of such nonlinear waves is finite without the need for apodization.     

Optical light bullets in a pure Kerr medium

We show that small negative fourth-order dispersion can arrest spatiotemporal collapse of ultrashort pulses with anomalous dispersion in a planar waveguide with pure Kerr nonlinearity, resulting in (2 + 1)D optical bullets. Similarly to solitons, these bullets undergo elastic collisions. Since these bullets can self-trap from noisy Gaussian input beams and propagate without any power losses, this result may be used to realize experimentally stable, nondissipative optical bullets.     

Generation of stable multi-vortex clusters in a dissipative medium with anti-cubic nonlinearity

We demonstrate the generation of vortex solitons in a model of dissipative optical media with the singular anti-cubic (AC) nonlinearity, by launching a vorticity-carrying Gaussian input into the medium modeled by the cubic-quintic complex Ginzburg-Landau equation. The effect of the AC term on the beam propagation is investigated in detail. An analytical result is produced for the asymptotic form of fundamental and vortical solitons at the point of $r\to 0$, which is imposed by the AC term. Numerical simulations identify parameter domains that maintain stable dissipative solitons in the form of vortex clusters. The number of vortices in the clusters is equal to the vorticity embedded in the Gaussian input.     

Oscillating solitons in nonlinear optics

Oscillating solitons are obtained in nonlinear optics. Analytical study of the variable-coefficient nonlinear Schrödinger equation, which is used to describe the soliton propagation in those systems, is carried out using the Hirota’s bilinear method. The bilinear forms and analytic soliton solutions are derived, and the relevant properties and features of oscillating solitons are illustrated. Oscillating solitons are controlled by the reciprocal of the group velocity and Kerr nonlinearity. Results of this paper will be valuable to the study of dispersion-managed optical communication system and mode-locked fibre lasers.     

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.