The influence of 3-photon absorption and pulse interactions on discrete X-waves in normally dispersive waveguide arrays

In this paper, we investigate the influences of 3-photon absorption on discrete X-waves in nonlinear normally dispersive waveguide arrays. It is found that 3-photon absorption can cause the decrease of the total power, which results in the appearances of the discrete diffraction for an intermediate input peak-power and the discrete X-wave for a higher input peak-power. Also, the interaction between pulses for different waveguide excitation are studied in detail. The results show that for the in-phase waveguide excitation of neighboring channels, the bound states can be formed by choosing properly the initial peak-power; for the in-phase waveguide excitation of distant channels, however, the bound states can not be formed. For the out-of-phase multiple waveguide excitation, due to interplay the repulsive force and nonlinearity, the interaction of two pulses can form the X-like wave or the double X-like wave as long as choosing the proper input peak-power.     

Gap solitons in defocusing lithium niobate binary waveguide arrays fabricated by proton implantation and selective light illumination

Photovoltaic photorefractive binary waveguide arrays are fabricated by proton implantation and selective light illumination on top of an iron-doped near stoichiometric lithium niobate crystal. Linear discrete diffraction and nonlinear formation of gap solitons were investigated by single-channel excitation using Gaussian light beams coupled into either wide or narrow waveguide channels. The results show that, at low power, linear light propagation leads to discrete diffraction, whilst for higher input power the focusing mechanism dominates, finally leading to the formation of gap solitons in the binary waveguide arrays. Our simulation of light propagation based on a nonlinear beam propagation method confirms the experimental findings.     

Transmissive beam steering through electrowetting microprism arrays

Reported is a numerical calculation of near-field and far-field intensities for two electrowetting microprism designs. This includes an investigation of one-dimensional, two-dimensional, and bi-prism pixellated arrays. The diffraction efficiency of an incident Gaussian beam is investigated. Far-field deflection angles are extended to more than 10°. For the phased arrays the diffraction angles are discrete and the angles between the diffraction peaks can be covered by applying a tilted phase to the input field.     

Discrete gap solitons in modulated waveguide arrays

We suggest a novel concept of diffraction management in waveguide arrays and predict the existence of discrete gap solitons that possess the properties of both conventional discrete and Bragg grating solitons. We demonstrate that one can control both the soliton velocity and the propagation direction by varying the input light intensity.     

Anisotropic diffraction and elliptic discrete solitons in two-dimensional waveguide arrays

We demonstrate that both the linear (diffraction) and the nonlinear dynamics of two-dimensional waveguide arrays are considerably more complex and versatile than their one-dimensional counterparts. The discrete diffraction properties of these arrays can be effectively altered, depending on the propagation Bloch k-vector within the first Brillouin zone of the lattice. In general, this diffraction behavior is anisotropic and therefore permits the existence of a new class of discrete elliptic solitons in the nonlinear regime.     

Self-focusing and defocusing in waveguide arrays

We show that two regimes of diffraction exist in arrays of waveguides, depending upon the input conditions. At higher powers, normal diffraction leads to self-focusing and to the formation of bright solitons through the nonlinear Kerr effect. By slightly changing the input conditions, light experiences anomalous diffraction and is nonlinearly defocused. For the first time, self-focusing and self-defocusing have been achieved for the same medium, structure, and wavelength.     

Diffraction of electromagnetic radiation near an interface between discrete positive and negative refractive media

The discrete diffraction of electromagnetic waves near the interface between two different media formed by waveguide arrays is studied. One of the arrays consists of waveguides made of a positive index material; the other, of waveguides made of a negative index material. The refraction of a beam resulting from diffraction at the interface obeys an analog of Snell’s law.     

Localization of light in evanescently coupled disordered waveguide lattices: Dependence on the input beam profile

We investigate how the transverse localization of light in evanescently coupled, disordered, lossless waveguide lattices depends on the shape and size of an input beam. Our detailed numerical study not only reveals waveguide-like propagation of the localized state inside such a disordered discrete medium but also shows that a specific localized state is independent of the spatial profile of the input beam. Dependence of the localized state on input beam parameters and lattice parameters is also reported. Our results should be of interest for engineering light propagation with discrete diffractive optics in practical optical geometries (e.g., microstructured arrays of optical waveguides, fiber arrays, etc.) and for realizing waveguide-like (without any diffractive spread) propagation even in the presence of structural disorders and refractive index perturbations.     

Discrete Dipole Approximation Aided Design Method for Nanostructure Arrays

A discrete dipole approximation （DDA） aided design method is proposed to determine the parameters of nanostructure arrays. The relationship between the thickness, period and extinction efficiency of nanostructure arrays for the given shape can be calculated using the DDA. Based on the calculated curves, the main parameters of the nanostructure arrays such as thickness and period can be determined. Using this aided method, a rhombic sliver nanostructure array is designed with the determinant parameters of thickness （40 nm） and period （440 nm）. We further fabricate the rhombic sliver nanostructure arrays and testify the character of the extinction spectra. The obtained extinction spectra is within the visible range and the full width at half maximum is 99nm, as is expected.     

Multibreather solitons in the diffraction managed NLS equation

We study analytically and numerically localized breather solutions in the averaged discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLS) with diffraction management, a system that models coupled waveguide arrays with periodic diffraction management geometries. Localized breathers can be characterized as constrained critical points of the Hamiltonian of the averaged diffraction managed NLS. In addition to local extrema, we find numerically more general solutions that are saddle points of the constrained Hamiltonian. An interesting class of saddle points are “multi-bump” solutions that are close to superpositions of translates of simpler breathers. In the case of zero residual diffraction and small diffraction management, the existence of multibumps can be shown rigorously by a continuation argument.     

Multicore, tapered optical fiber for nonlinear pulse reshaping and saturable absorption

We present a new method to create a coupled waveguide array via tapering a seven-core telecommunications fiber. The fiber based waveguide array is demonstrated to exhibit the novel physics associated with coupled waveguide arrays, such as discrete diffraction and discrete self-focusing. The saturable absorber characteristics of the device are characterized and an autocorrelation measurement reveals significant single-pass pulse reshaping.     

Discrete Talbot effect in waveguide arrays

We report the first observation of discrete Talbot revivals in one-dimensional waveguide arrays. Unlike continuous systems where the Talbot self-imaging effect always occurs irrespective of the pattern period, in discrete configurations this process is only possible for a specific set of periodicities. Recurrence of different input periodic patterns is observed in good agreement with theory.     

Discrete X-wave formation in nonlinear waveguide arrays

We present experimental evidence for the spontaneous formation of discrete X waves in AlGaAs waveguide arrays. This new family of optical waves has been excited, for the first time, by using the interplay between discrete diffraction and normal temporal dispersion, in the presence of Kerr nonlinearity. Our experimental results are in good agreement with theoretical predictions.     

Discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation with arbitrary nonlocality: Linear stability analysis and localized solution

The modulational instability of a plane wave for a discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation with arbitrary nonlocality is analyzed. This model describes light propagation in a thin film planar waveguide arrays of nematic liquid crystals subjected to a periodic transverse modulation by a low frequency electric field. It is shown that nonlocality can both suppress and promote the growth rate and bandwidth of instability, depending on the type of a response function of a discrete medium. A solitary wave (breather-like) solution is built by the variational approximation and its stability is demonstrated.     

Autocatalytic redox fabrication and magnetic studies of Co-Ni-P alloy nanowire arrays

Uniform and large-scale Co-Ni-P alloy nanowire arrays have been fabricated by autocatalytic redox reaction in an anodic alumina membrane (AAM). The images of Co-Ni-P alloy nanowire arrays and single nanowires are obtained by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), respectively. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectra (EDS) are employed to study the morphology and chemical composition of the nanowires. The results indicate that the Co-Ni-P nanowire arrays are amorphous in structure. The magnetic property of Co-Ni-P nanowire arrays is characterized using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The hysteresis loops show that the easily magnetized direction of Co-Ni-P nanowire arrays is parallel to the nanowire arrays and that it has obvious magnetic anisotropy as a result of the shape anisotropy.     

Electroless synthesis of large scale Co-Zn-P nanowire arrays and the magnetic behaviour

Co-Zn-P nanowire arrays have been synthesized by electroless deposition in an anodic alumina membrane (AAM). The images of Co-Zn-P nanowire arrays and single nanowires are obtained by both scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), respectively. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectra (EDS) are employed to study the morphology and chemical composition of the nanowires. The results indicate that Co-Zn-P nanowire arrays are amorphous in structure. The hysteresis loops characterized by a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) show that the easily magnetized direction of Co-Zn-P nanowire arrays is parallel to the nanowire arrays and that there exhibits clearly a magnetic anisotropy as a result of the shape anisotropy.     

Gap and dark solitons in discrete photorefractive media with?intensity-resonant nonlinearity

Light propagation in one-dimensional nonlinear waveguide arrays with self-defocusing intensity-resonant nonlinearity is investigated theoretically. We study thoroughly conditions for existence and stability of both gap and discrete dark solitons. According to the linear stability analysis both fundamental types (on-site and intersite) of gap solitons may be stable. Discrete dark solitons are unstable except in the low-power regime and, depending on system parameters, evolve into either gray solitons, breathers, or background radiation. Mobility of these solitons is analyzed by the free energy concept: gap solitons are immobile but dark solitons can be easily set in motion.     

Growth of vertically aligned one-dimensional ZnO nanowire arrays on sol–gel derived ZnO thin films

Vertically aligned one-dimensional ZnO nanowire arrays have been synthesized by a hydrothermal method on sol–gel derived ZnO films. Sol–gel derived ZnO films and corresponding ZnO nanowire arrays have been characterized by X-ray diffraction and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The effect of sol–gel derived ZnO film surface on the morphology of ZnO nanowire arrays has been investigated. The authors suggest from our investigation that sol–gel derived ZnO films affect the growth of one-dimensional ZnO nanostructures. Not only crystalline ZnO films but also amorphous ones can act as a scaffold for ZnO nucleus. Tilted ZnO micro-rods are grown on ZnO gel films, whereas vertically aligned ZnO nanowire arrays are grown on nanometer-sized ZnO grains. The average diameter of ZnO nanowire arrays are correlated strongly with the grain size of sol–gel derived ZnO films.     

Multicolor Talbot effect and control of polychromatic light patterns in modulated photonic lattices

We analyze propagation of polychromatic light patterns in modulated photonic lattices created with arrays of periodically curved coupled optical waveguides. We demonstrate that in waveguide arrays with specially designed modulation periodic recurrences of input light patterns produced by white-light and supercontinuum sources can be realized, e.g., through multicolor Talbot effect.     

Discrete diffraction in two-dimensional arrays of coupled waveguides in silica

The propagation of light in 5 x 5 and 7 x 7 cubic lattices of evanescently coupled waveguides is investigated for the first time, to the authors' knowledge. The results reveal ideal discrete diffraction and demonstrate the excellent quality of the waveguide arrays, which were manufactured in fused silica by femtosecond-laser-induced refractive-index modifications.