Velocity of pulse propagation in media with amplitude nonlinearity

The propagation velocity of optical wave fronts can be accelerated by the influence of gain saturation. We report systematic measurements for the specific case of Brillouin gain in optical fibers. A simplified analytic rate equation approach permits a qualitative understanding of the observations in terms of a pure amplitude nonlinearity. We point out that there is a close analogy to a mode-locked laser with gain saturation. Pursuing this analogy, we can explain why the changes in propagation velocity are hardly measurable for synchronously pumped lasers, but easily amount to several percent for amplifiers or lasers based on stimulated Brillouin scattering.     

Defect vector gap solitons in photonic lattices

The existence and general properties of different kinds of defect vector gap solitons in one dimensional optically induced photonic defect lattice with focusing saturable nonlinearity in photorefractive crystal are analyzed. The defect is well localized in a single site with two existence forms, namely repulsive and attractive defect. Propagation constants of two beams that compose defect vector gap solitons could be from same gap or from different gaps. We show that some kinds of unstable scalar defect gap solitons could be stabilized by their corresponding vector cases.     

Interaction of incoherent white-light solitons

We study numerically the formation and interactions of incoherent white-light solitons in a nonlinear media with logarithmic saturable nonlinearity based on the coherent density approach. We find that not only the formation but also the interactions of incoherent white-light solitons are fundamentally a collective effect, where all the frequencies participate in the process, and self-adjust their respective contributions to the formation and interactions. We find that the interactions of incoherent white-light solitons in logarithmic media are always attractive.     

Theoretical study of saturable Kerr nonlinearity using top-hat beam Z-scan technique

Saturable Kerr nonlinearity is theoretically investigated by use of the top-hat beam Z-scan technique. The saturation intensity changes the nonlinear refractive profile and decreases the sensitivity of the Z-scan measurements, which were quantitatively analyzed. An empirical formula for the saturable Kerr nonlinearity, which gave the relationship between the light intensity and the peak-valley transmittance difference, was accomplished. A high-accuracy method to determine the nonlinear refractive index and the characteristic saturation intensity was proposed.     

Families of spatial solitons in a two-channel waveguide with the cubic-quintic nonlinearity

We present eight types of spatial optical solitons which are possible in a model of a planar waveguide that includes a dual-channel trapping structure and competing (cubic-quintic) nonlinearity. The families of trapped beams include “broad” and “narrow” symmetric and antisymmetric solitons, composite states, built as combinations of broad and narrow beams with identical or opposite signs (“unipolar” and “bipolar” states, respectively), and “single-sided” broad and narrow beams trapped, essentially, in a single channel. The stability of the families is investigated via the computation of eigenvalues of small perturbations, and is verified in direct simulations. Three species-narrow symmetric, broad antisymmetric, and unipolar composite states-are unstable to perturbations with real eigenvalues, while the other five families are stable. The unstable states do not decay, but, instead, spontaneously transform themselves into persistent breathers, which, in some cases, demonstrate dynamical symmetry breaking and chaotic internal oscillations. A noteworthy feature is a stability exchange between the broad and narrow antisymmetric states: in the limit when the two channels merge into one, the former species becomes stable, while the latter one loses its stability. Different branches of the stationary states are linked by four bifurcations, which take different forms in the model with the strong and weak coupling between the channels.     

Modulation instability with incoherent white light in self-defocusing photorefractive crystal

We report on the first experimental observation of modulation instability and spontaneous pattern formation with incoherent white light emitted from an incandescent lamp in self-defocusing photorefractive LiNbO₃:Fe crystal. Experimental results show that the modulation instability of white light in self-defocusing medium is related to the input intensity, illumination time and the direction of the crystalline c-axis with respect to that of the lamp filament. At the illumination time t = 0 and the steady-state of MI, we give the spatial distribution of the optical Fourier power spectrum experimentally and the corresponding Fourier transformation of the output intensity numerically, and observe the emergence of the high frequency component along the c-axis.     

Surface optical solitons of self-induced transparency in indefinite media

The nonlinear surface TM-modes propagating along the interface separating an isotropic medium and an indefinite medium are investigated. A transition layer sandwiched between the connected media is described using a model of a two-dimensional gas of two-level atoms. Two cases of isotropic media, left-handed and metallic, are considered. It is shown that explicit analytical expressions for a surface optical soliton of self-induced transparency depends on the parameters of the two-level atoms and the connected media.     

Interaction of nonlocal incoherent spatial solitons

We investigate numerically the interaction of nonlocal incoherent spatial solitons in strongly nonlocal kerr media based on the coherent density approach. Numerical simulations show that the incoherent soliton position is very similar to the case of coherent soliton, and show that the incoherence plays an important role in the soliton interaction, while the role of other parameters such as the phase difference, the separation, the extent of nonlocality and the input power play in the interaction is very similar to the case of nonlocal coherent soliton. Some interesting numerical examples are presented to illustrate their interaction behavior further. Pertinent physics features are addressed.     

Elliptic incoherent spatial solitons and their interactions in strongly nonlocal media with an anisotropic nonlocality

We investigate the propagation and interaction of elliptic incoherent spatial solitons (EISS) in strongly nonlocal kerr media with an anisotropic nonlocality based on the coherent density approach. An exact analytical solution of such EISS is obtained; the results show that such EISS can form with both isotropic and anisotropic coherence. Moreover, we find that the interaction properties of EISS are very similar to that of their coherent counterpart. Some numerical examples are presented and pertinent physics features are addressed.     

Surface defect linear modes in one-dimensional photonic lattices

We report on the existence of surface defect linear modes at an interface between the defect of one-dimensional photonic lattices and the uniform media. The interface defect can significantly affect the properties of linear modes. Such new type of modes exists in the first bandgap for positive defects; while they exist in the second bandgap for negative defects. Particularly, when a Gaussian beam, which is similar to the linear mode, is launched at the defect site, we find that the Gaussian beam can be strongly confined at defect site and robustness along longitudinal direction for a long distance. When launched at a small angle into the defect site, the Gaussian beam exhibits stable snake propagation.     

Optical bistability in one-dimensional photonic band gap structures with coupled nonlinear defects

Using the transfer matrix method, we study the transmission property of one-dimensional photonic band gap structure with two coupled nonlinear defects separated by a linear middle layer and find that such composite structure exhibits a bistability that’s strongly dependent of the linear middle layer. The switching threshold values can be greatly reduced just by choosing the proper parameters of the linear middle layer.     

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.     

Quasi-stable propagation of vortices and soliton clusters in saturable Kerr media with square-root nonlinearity

Analytical and numerical investigation of the propagation of optical beams in Kerr-like saturable photorefractive media is carried out, utilizing a novel model for the local isotropic part of the space-charge field generated in the medium. Using a variational technique, optimal propagation parameters for the most stable propagation of otherwise unstable single Gaussian, single vortex, and optical soliton cluster beams are determined. Analogy between a ring of identical weakly overlapping solitons and a vortex of the same topological charge is explored.     

Surface Emitting THz Wave Parametrical Oscillator Using MgO：LiNbO3

Room-temperature operation terahertz （THz） wave source is demonstrated using three MgO：LiNbO3 crystals which have a noncollinear arrangement. The experimental results show that the THz wave can be tunable from 0.8 THz to 3.0 THz, and the peak energy output is 103 pJ/pulse at 1.5 THz. The noncoilinear cavity configuration makes the THz beam have Gaussian-like spatial distribution, small divergence angle, perpendicularly eradiated from the crystal surface. The beam quality factor M2 is measured to be Mx^2 = 1.15, Mx^2 = 1.25 for characterizing the THz wave beam. Experiments also show that the THz beam can be focused by using a polyethylene lens, and the focal spot size is close to the diffraction limit.     

Dynamics of Incoherent Photovoltaic Spatial Solitons

Propagation properties of bright and dark incoherent beams are numerically studied in photovoltaic-photorefractive crystal by using coherent density approach for the first time. Numerical simulations not only exhibit that bright incoherent photovoltaic quasi-soliton, grey-like incoherent photovoltaic soliton, incoherent soliton doublet and triplet can be established under proper conditions, but also display that the spatial coherence properties of these incoherent beams can be significantly affected during propagation by the photovoltaic field.     

Bifurcation structures and dominant modes near relative equilibria in the one-dimensional discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation

We investigate the bifurcation structure of a family of relative equilibria of a ring of seven oscillators described by the discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation (DNLSE) when the period of these orbits and a suitable defect act as bifurcation parameters. We find a reduced Hamiltonian that gives substantial insight into the dynamics of this system. The convexity of this Hamiltonian at given nonresonant equilibria supports the stability of nearby quasiperiodic solutions. We show that the local loss of convexity in the reduced Hamiltonian is determined by the Hessian of its integrable part in the family of relative equilibria under study. Stable quasiperiodic solutions are studied by considering the power spectral densities of a set of suitable fast and slow actions, whose origin is suggested by the averaging principle. We also show that the return times form an optimal embedding to characterize the system dynamics. We show that the power spectral density of a suitable interference signal, arising from a ring of Bose-Einstein condensates and described by the DNLSE, has a single prominent peak at the breather-like relative equilibria.     

Laser Mode-Dependent Size of Plasma Zones Induced by Femtosecond Laser Pulses in Fused Silica

We carry out the numerical simulations of femtosecond laser propagation with TEMoo mode, TEM10 mode and a beam combining both the modes in fused silica. It is found that the transverse size of plasma zones induced by laser pulses with the TEM10 mode is smaller than that induced by the TEM00 mode, while the longitudinal size is almost the same, and the saturated plasma density is higher. The transverse size, the longitudinal size and the ratio of the longitudinal to transverse size, for the beam combining both the modes, all could be reduced at the same time in comparison with the TEM00 mode under the same focusing conditions.     

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.