Temporal behavior of dark spatial solitons in closed-circuit photovoltaic media

We show that the time-dependent nonlinear wave equation in closed-circuit photovoltaic media can exhibit quasi-steady-state and steady-state spatial solitons. We demonstrate that the formation time of open-circuit quasi-steady-state and open-circuit steady-state dark solitons decreases with an increase in the intensity ratio of the soliton, which is the ratio between the soliton peak intensity and the dark irradiance. We find that for the time-dependent nonlinear wave equation that exhibits only an open-circuit steady-state dark soliton, changing the electric current density J₀ does not generate quasi-steady-state dark solitons and affects the formation time of steady-state dark solitons and that for the time-dependent nonlinear wave equation that exhibits an open-circuit quasi-steady-state dark soliton, changing J₀ gives rise to three different time evolution regimes of the full width half maximum of the soliton’s intensity. The first regime shows that the formation time of steady-state dark solitons increases with J₀ whereas the formation time of quasi-steady-state dark solitons is independent of J₀. The second regime shows that the formation time of steady-state dark solitons decreases with an increases in J₀ and the formation time of quasi-steady-state dark solitons increases with J₀. The third regime shows that changing J₀ enables only steady-state dark solitons in the time-dependent nonlinear wave equation, of which the formation time increases with J₀.     

Dark incoherent soliton splitting in biased photorefractive-photovoltaic crystals

Using the coherent density approach, we study the dark incoherent soliton splitting in biased photorefractive-photovoltaic crystals. We show that when the full width half maximum (FWHM) of the optical beam’s intensity is increased, the odd incoherent dark beam splits into an odd-number sequence of multiple dark stripes, whereas the even incoherent dark beam splits into an even-number sequence of multiple dark stripes. We find that when more incoherent solitons are generated, the separations between adjacent dark stripes become smaller and the stripes far away from the center become less visible and that for a given physical system and for a given splitting, the separations between adjacent dark stripes decrease with an increase in the intensity FWHM of the optical beam. On the other hand, the dark incoherent soliton splitting in biased photorefractive-photovoltaic crystals is the dark incoherent screening soliton splitting when the bulk photovoltaic effect is neglectable and the dark incoherent closed- and open-circuit photovoltaic soliton splitting when the external bias field is absent.     

Waveguides induced by steady-state gray solitons in biased photorefractive-photovoltaic crystals

We carry out a theoretical investigation of the properties of waveguides induced by photorefractive one-dimensional steady-state gray spatial solitons (i.e., screening solitons, photovoltaic solitons, and screening-photovoltaic solitons). We demonstrate that waveguides induced by photorefractive steady-state gray spatial solitons are only a single guided mode for both all soliton graynesses and all values of ρ, where ρ is the ratio between the soliton peak intensity and the dark irradiance, and moreover, waveguides induced by gray photovoltaic solitons for closed-circuit condition are also only a single guided mode for all electric current densities. We find that the confined energy near the center of a photorefractive steady-state gray spatial soliton increases with ρ and decreases with an increase in the soliton grayness. We also find that the confined energy near the center of a gray photovoltaic soliton for closed-circuit condition increases with the electric current density. On the other hand, waveguides induced by gray screening-photovoltaic solitons are gray screening soliton-induced waveguides when the bulk photovoltaic effect is neglectable and are gray photovoltaic soliton-induced waveguides when the external bias field is absent.     

Complete and orthonormal eigenfunctions of excitations to a one-dimensional dark soliton

We study linear excitations to a one-dimensional dark soliton described by a defocusing nonlinear Schödinger equation. By solving an eigenvalue problem for the excitations we obtain all eigenvalues and eigenfunctions and prove rigorously that these eigenfunctions are orthonormal and form a complete set. We then use the eigenfunctions to obtain the exact form of linear excitations for any given initial condition and to investigate the transverse stability of the dark soliton. The rigorous results reported in the present work can be applied to study the dynamics of dark solitons in various nonlinear optical media and Bose-Einstein condensates.     

Generalized Theory of One-Dimensional Steady-State Optical Spatial Solitons

We present a generalized soliton theory based on the one-dimensional generalized nonlinear Schroedinger equation,from which one can easily obtain the bright, dark, and grey soliton waveforms, and their existence curves. We show that the forming conditions of spatial solitons are directly dependent on the relationship between the index perturbation and the intensity, no matter whether the index perturbation is positive or negative. Some relevant examples are presented when the solitons are supported by the photoisomerization nonlinearity.     

Dark optical solitons in power law media with time-dependent coefficients

This Letter talks about the dynamics of dark optical solitons that are governed by the nonlinear Schrödinger's equation with power law nonlinearity. The solitons are considered in presence of linear attenuation, third order dispersion and self-steepening terms, all with time-dependent coefficients. The solitary wave ansatz is used to carry out the integration and an exact soliton solution is obtained. It is only necessary that these time-dependent coefficients are Riemann integrable.     

Gray and dark spatial solitons supported by two-photon isomerization

A theory is presented to show that gray and dark solitons can exist in bulk polymers with two-photon isomerization (TPI) nonlinearity. The soliton FWHM, intensity and phase profiles are discussed in detail. In addition, the stability properties of these TPI solitons are also investigated by employing the stability criterion based on the renormalized momentum.     

Soliton switching in inhomogeneous nonlocal media

We address a simple way to achieve routing of optical spatial solitons via soliton interactions in the inhomogeneous nonlocal media. We reveal that the variation of the nonlocality disturbs the solitons pairs and splits them into two individual solitons which have the same escape angle but opposite deflection directions. In particular, the escape angle monotonically increases with the increase of the nonlocality variation rate. We demonstrate that the soliton pairs could form self-consistent waveguides that are able to controllably guide a weak signal by any output positions.     

Soliton control in optical lattices with periodic modulation of nonlinearity coefficient

We address the dynamics of solitons in the optical lattices with periodic modulation of the nonlinearity coefficient. Based on the quasi-particle approach, the properties of fundamental soliton localized in optical lattices are theoretically analyzed and shown its potential application for controllable soliton switching. Moreover, the phenomena of multi-soliton splitting and the single-soliton constituent trapping in the optical lattices are illustrated and discussed.     

Discrete light bullets in two-dimensional photonic lattices: Collision scenarios

We report systematic results of collisions between discrete spatiotemporal optical solitons in two-dimensional photonic lattices. We show that the outcomes of collisions strongly depend on the initial soliton parameters, such as their input amplitudes (energies) and their transverse velocities. Four generic outcomes are identified in the study of collisions between discrete light bullets located in the corner, at the edge, and in the center of the photonic lattice: (a) merger of both low and high amplitude solitons into a single one, at small values of the kick parameter (soliton transverse velocity), (b) spreading of low amplitude solitons at intermediate values of the kick parameter, (c) bouncing of high amplitude solitons at intermediate values of the kick parameter, which is accompanied by a sharp modification of input soliton transverse velocities, and (d) quasi-elastic (symmetric) interactions of both low and high amplitude solitons at large values of the kick parameter.     

Incoherently coupled bright–dark hybrid soliton families in biased photovoltaic–photorefractive crystals

The propagation of multiple mutually incoherent spatial solitons in biased photovoltaic–photorefractive crystals is investigated under steady-state conditions. It is shown that incoherently coupled bright–dark hybrid screening–photovoltaic soliton families can be established in the crystals provided that the mutually incoherent incident beams have the same polarization and the same wavelength. Relevant examples are presented where the photovoltaic–photorefractive crystal is taken to be lithium niobate. Received: 15 May 2000 / Revised version: 27 July 2000 / Published online: 5 October 2000     

Interaction of two-dimensional spatial incoherent solitons in photorefractive medium

We present a review of our recent theoretical and experimental results on the interaction of incoherent two-dimensional solitary beams in PR SBN crystals. We show that the inherent anisotropy of PR nonlinearity strongly affects the interaction between solitons. Theoretical and experimental results reveal that solitons interacting in a plane perpendicular to the direction of external biasing field always attract, whereas those colliding in a plane of the field exhibit anomalous behaviour. They may experience both attractive and repulsive forces, depending on their mutual separation. We also show that this anisotropy results in the complicated topology of soliton trajectories, featuring periodic collisions, prolonged mutual spiraling and collapse, depending on the initial conditions. Received: 16 November 1998 / Revised version: 12 February 1999 / Published online: 12 April 1999     

Photorefractive spatial solitons as waveguiding elements for optical telecommunication

Spatial solitons permit optical waveguiding. This holds true for the soliton write beam (i.e. the driving laser beam), as well as for additional probe beams, which may carry optically encoded information. This feature of spatial solitons is of significant interest for applications in optical telecommunication. We present systematic experimental investigations on single and multiple spatial solitons in the infrared spectral regime (i.e. around optical telecommunication wavelengths), applied as controllable all-optical devices. In particular, we present the implementations of a Y-coupler as an optical signal divider, a switchable Y-coupler as an optical add multiplexer, and a novel design for a 1 × 3 optical beam switch, i.e. applied as a router for infrared signal beams. We report large waveguiding efficiencies up to 40% and transmission rates of 90 Tbit/s in our setups. The presented experimental data are confirmed by numerical simulations.     

Evolution and Stability of Dark Holographic Solitons in Photorefractive Dissipative Systems

The dynamics evolution of dark holographic solutions in a dissipative system is investigated numerically provided that the double balance, i.e. diffraction is balanced by nonlinearity and loss is balanced by gain, is satisfied. The influence of the system parameters, such as the linear loss of the crystal, the external biased field and the angel between input beams, on the stable propagation of soliton beams is discussed numerically. Results show that such solitons can be easily amplified or absorbed by adjusting these system parameters. Furthermore, numerical simulations indicate that dissipative dark holographic solitons are stable for small perturbation on amplitude.     

Solitary Wave Evolution of Optical Planar Vortices in Self-Defocusing Photorefractive Media

Solitary wave evolution of optical planar vortices in isotropie self-defoeusing photorefractive media is investigated in detail. We demonstrate that the formation of a planar vortex soliton intensively depends on the diameter and maximum intensity of the input vortex Seam. The exact solutions of planar vortex solitons are obtained due to the Petviashvili iteration method. It is found that, with the increasing soliton maximum intensity, the soliton core will be gradually diminished to a minimum value.     

Interaction of spatial photorefractive solitons in a planar waveguide

We report the observation of collisions between one-dimensional bright photorefractive screening solitons in a planar strontium–barium niobate waveguide. Depending on the intersection angle of the two solitons and their relative phase, we observe soliton fusion, repelling, energy exchange, and the creation of a third soliton upon interaction. Received: 4 November 1998 / Revised version: 3 December 1998 / Published online: 24 February 1999     

Manipulation of soliton ensembles by spectral filters

It was shown recently that an ensemble of solitons can be created in a driven optical fiber resonator. The ensemble can exist in either an ordered or a disordered state; these have been referred to as soliton solid or gas (fluid), respectively. We demonstrate through numerical simulation that the transition from one state to the other or vice versa, and further manipulation of the ensemble, can be effected through the insertion of spectral filters. Received: 7 July 2000 / Revised version: 1 September 2000 / Published online: 30 November 2000     

Composite spatial solitons in a saturable nonlinear bulk medium

We review the generation of the recently predicted multi-component spatial optical solitons in a saturable nonlinear bulk medium. We present numerical simulations for an effectively isotropic model and experimental results for a set of different combinations of a Gaussian beam co-propagating incoherently with a beam of a more complex internal structure, such as a higher order transverse laser mode. We discuss the different formation processes and the general properties of a variety of different dipole-mode composite solitons and expand our investigations to the generation of a quadrupole-mode composite soliton. Received: 1 December 2000 / Revised version: 12 January 2001 / Published online: 21 March 2001     

Two-Dimensional Laguerre--Gaussian Asymmetric Soliton Family in Strongly Nonlocal Media

We demonstrate the existence of a broad class of higher-order Laguerre Gaussian asymmetric spatial optical solitons in strongly nonlocal nonlinear media. Furthermore, we discuss specific values （q = 0） of the modulation depth parameter for different rational values of the topological charge in detail. Our results show that higherorder asymmetry spatial sofiton family can exist in various forms, such as two-dimensional defect haff-solitons, asymmetric single-layer and multi-layer necklace solitons.     

Spectral-temporal dynamics of ultrashort Raman solitons and their role in third-harmonic generation in photonic crystal fibers

We use cross-correlation frequency-resolved optical gating to obtain spectral-temporal portraits of ultrashort Raman solitons in photonic crystal fibers at telecommunication wavelengths. Power-dependent Raman frequency shifts of 200 nm in 63 mm of fiber are observed accompanied by spectral broadening and 2.5-times soliton compression. Complete time-frequency dynamics at the fundamental wavelength thus visualized enables us to explain the details of the intermodally phase-matched third harmonic generation by the propagating solitons.This revised version was published online in August 2005 with a corrected cover date.