Dynamics of bright discrete staggered solitons in photovoltaic photorefractive media

Theoretical results on spatial optical bright solitons excited in arrays of nonlinear defocusing waveguides, that result from the photovoltaic effect in a photorefractive material, are presented. The existence of four types of stationary discrete bright staggered solitons, on-site, inter-site, twisted inter-site, and twisted on-site solitons, is shown both analytically and numerically, and their stability properties are investigated. The maximum Hamiltonian of staggered solitons with the same total power corresponds to stable modes. It is shown that for low total power the on-site mode is stable while in the high power regime the inter-site mode is stable. These results are confirmed numerically. In addition, steering properties of localized modes are investigated by introducing a transversal translational shift. Because of the translational symmetry between on-site and inter-site localized modes they are considered as two dynamical realizations of the same moving mode, and the formalism of the Peierls-Nabarro effective potential is applied to interpret the exchange between trapping and steering of these modes. This critically depends on the mode’s total power and the introduced phase difference. On the other hand, steering of twisted inter-site and on-site localized modes is not numerically observed. Instead, transversal perturbation leads to a transformation of twisted modes either into a trapped on-site mode of smaller power and radiation, or into two trapped on-site modes.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Solitons in a medium with linear dissipation and localized gain

We present a variety of dissipative solitons and breathing modes in a medium with localized gain and homogeneous linear dissipation. The system possesses a number of unusual properties, like exponentially localized modes in both focusing and defocusing media, existence of modes in focusing media at negative propagation constant values, simultaneous existence of stable symmetric and antisymmetric localized modes when the gain landscape possesses two local maxima, as well as the existence of stable breathing solutions.     

Localized modes in a defectless photonic crystal waveguide at terahertz frequencies

We propose an idea to excite localized modes in a photonic crystal (PC) waveguide without ruining the discrete translational symmetry of the lattice. This can be done by arranging dispersive elements having negative permittivity over a desired frequency range into a periodic structure. We demonstrate numerically the realization of a cavity mode inside the air region of a geometrical defectless two-dimensional square-lattice PC consisting of polaritonic cylinders placed in air matrix. The corresponding waveguide structure in the form of a PC fiber supports the cavity mode as a guided mode to propagate along the guiding direction at very small propagation constant with near zero group velocity. These localized modes can be recognized as localized defectless modes inside the structure with four-fold symmetry.     

Vortex lattice solitons supported by localized gain

We show that localized gain supports the existence of dissipative vortex solitons in periodic Kerr media with strong two-photon absorption. Vortex solitons exist in both focusing and defocusing media, with their propagation constants emerging from semi-infinite or finite gaps in the lattice spectrum. Coincidence of the discrete rotational symmetries of the gain landscape and refractive index distribution is a necessary condition for exciting vortex solitons, which otherwise transform into stable dissipative multipoles.     

From solitons to discrete breathers

The excitation of solitons and discrete breathers (pinned or otherwise, also known asintrinsic localized modes, DB/ILM) in a one-dimensional lattice, also denoted as a chain,is considered when both on-site and inter-site vibrations, coupled together, are governedby the empirical Morse interaction. We focus attention on the transformation of the formerinto the latter as the relative strength of the on-site potential to that of theinter-site potential is increased.     

Higher-order solitons in amplitude-disordered waveguide arrays

We investigate the existence and stability of different families of spatial solitons in optical waveguide arrays whose amplitudes obey a disordered distribution. The competition between focusing nonlinearity and linearly disordered refractive index modulation results in the formation of spatial localized nonlinear states. Solitons originating from Anderson modes with few nodes are robust during propagation. While multi-peaked solitons with in-phase neighboring components are completely unstable, multipole-mode solitons whose neighboring components are out-of-phase can propagate stably in wide parameter regions provided that their power exceeds a critical value. Our findings, thus, provide the first example of stable higher-order nonlinear states in disordered systems.     

Dark spatial solitons in discrete cubic media with self- and cross-phase modulation

We analytically study the background stability of dark strongly localized vectorial modes in discrete cubic media with self- and cross-phase modulation. The instability regions are identified as a function of the linear and non-linear coupling strength as well as the ratio between the background amplitudes of the two components. The respective instability gain is calculated. Approximate analytical solutions for vectorial discrete solitons of different topologies are derived. The analytical results obtained are confirmed by direct numerical simulations.     

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.     

Quantum Solitons and Localized Modes in a One-Dimensional Lattice Chain with Nonlinear Substrate Potential

In the classical lattice theory, solitons and localized modes can exist in many one-dimensional nonlinear lattice chains, however, in the quantum lattice theory, whether quantum solitons and localized modes can exist or not in the one-dimensional lattice chains is an interesting problem. By using the number state method and the Hartree approximation combined with the method of multiple scales, we investigate quantum solitons and localized modes in a one-dimensional lattice chain with the nonlinear substrate potential. It is shown that quantum solitons do exist in this nonlinear lattice chain, and at the boundary of the phonon Brillouin zone, quantum solitons become quantum localized modes, phonons are pinned to the lattice of the vicinity at the central position j=j₀.     

Nonlinear localized modes at phase-slip defects in waveguide arrays

We study light localization at a phase-slip defect created by two semi-infinite mismatched identical arrays of coupled optical waveguides. We demonstrate that the nonlinear defect modes possess the specific properties of both nonlinear surface modes and discrete solitons. We analyze the stability of the localized modes and their generation in both linear and nonlinear regimes.     

On conservative and dissipative solitons in media with a periodic spatial modulation

A comparative theoretical analysis of properties of conservative and dissipative optical solitons in media with a periodic spatial modulation of optical characteristics is performed. It is shown that, in the case of modulation in the longitudinal (with respect to the axis of predominant propagation) direction, the mechanism of decay of conservative solitons because of the delocalization of their Fourier harmonics takes place, whereas, for dissipative solitons, this mechanism is absent. In the case of modulation in the transverse direction, the presence of discrete dissipative solitons in a set of optical fibers with nonlinear (saturable) amplification and absorption is shown, which, to a considerable extent, are similar to conservative discrete solitons.     

Discrete solitons in inhomogeneous waveguide arrays

The existence and dynamical properties of discrete solitons in inhomogeneous waveguide arrays with a Kerr nonlinearity are studied in two different configurations. First we investigate the effect of a longitudinal periodic modulation of the coupling strength on the dynamics of discrete solitons. It is shown that resonances of internal modes of the soliton with the longitudinal structure may lead to soliton oscillations and decay. Second we study the existence and stability of discrete solitons in arrays exhibiting a linear variation of the waveguide effective index in the transverse direction. We find that resonant coupling between conventional discrete solitons and linear Wannier-Stark states leads to the formation of so-called hybrid discrete solitons.     

The appearance of gap solitons in a nonlinear Schrödinger lattice

We study the appearance of discrete gap solitons in a nonlinear Schrödinger model with a periodic on-site potential that possesses a gap evacuated of plane-wave solutions in the linear limit. For finite lattices supporting an anti-phase (q=π/2) gap edge phonon as an anharmonic standing wave in the nonlinear regime, gap solitons are numerically found to emerge via pitchfork bifurcations from the gap edge. Analytically, modulational instabilities between pairs of bifurcation points on this “nonlinear gap boundary” are found in terms of critical gap widths, turning to zero in the infinite-size limit, which are associated with the birth of the localized soliton as well as discrete multisolitons in the gap. Such tunable instabilities can be of relevance in exciting soliton states in modulated arrays of nonlinear optical waveguides or Bose-Einstein condensates in periodic potentials. For lattices whose gap edge phonon only asymptotically approaches the anti-phase solution, the nonlinear gap boundary splits in a bifurcation scenario leading to the birth of the discrete gap soliton as a continuable orbit to the gap edge in the linear limit. The instability-induced dynamics of the localized soliton in the gap regime is found to thermalize according to the Gibbsian equilibrium distribution, while the spontaneous formation of persisting intrinsically localized modes (discrete breathers) from the extended out-gap soliton reveals a phase transition of the solution.     

Dissipative discrete spatial optical solitons in a system of coupled optical fibers with the Kerr and resonance nonlinearities

The propagation of monochromatic radiation in a system of weakly coupled single-mode optical fibers with saturable amplification and absorption and Kerr nonlinearity of the refractive index is analyzed. Conditions of stability and bistability of plane-wave regimes are determined. Discrete dissipative optical solitons are found and their stability is studied. The hysteresis dependences of the peak intensity of the discrete solitons on the value of the Kerr nonlinearity and the input beam intensity are demonstrated. The numerical estimates of the parameters of the spatial dissipative discrete solitons are presented.     

光诱导平面波导阵列中离散空间光孤子的相干相互作用

采用Petviashvili迭代法对光诱导平面波导阵列中的一维离散空间光孤子进行求解,利用分步束传播法对离散空间光孤子间的相干相互作用进行了详细的数值模拟.探讨了离散孤子间的相位差、孤子光强、波导阵列写入光的强度和周期以及外加电场对相互作用过程的影响.结果表明：离散孤子间的相位差对相互作用的影响与连续介质中的情况类似,不同相位差情况下的相互作用也表现为吸引、排斥以及能量转移等现象.同时,离散孤子间的相干相互作用过程(如融合距离和排斥间距等)均会受到孤子光强、波导阵列写入光的强度和周期以及外加电场大小的影响 关键词： 光诱导平面波导阵列 离散空间光孤子 相干相互作用     

Discrete solitons and nonlinear surface modes in semi-infinite waveguide arrays

We discuss the formation of self-trapped localized states near the edge of a semi-infinite array of nonlinear optical waveguides. We study a crossover from nonlinear surface states to discrete solitons by analyzing the families of odd and even modes centered at finite distances from the surface and reveal the physical mechanism of the nonlinearity-induced stabilization of surface modes.     

Solitons and intrinsic localized modes in a one-dimensional antiferromagnetic chain

By use of the Hartree approximation and the method of multiple scales, we investigate quantum solitons and intrinsic localized modes in a one-dimensional antiferromagnetic chain. It is shown that there exist solitons of two different quantum frequency bands: i.e., magnetic optical solitons and acoustic solitons. At the boundary of the Brillouin zone, these solitons become quantum intrinsic localized modes: their quantum eigenfrequencies are below the bottom of the harmonic optical frequency band and above the top of the harmonic acoustic frequency band.