Quasi-two-dimensional dark spatial solitons and generation of mixed phase dislocations

This paper presents experimental evidence that orthogonally crossed dark soliton stripes form quasi-two-dimensional spatial solitons with a soliton constant equal to that of singly charged optical vortices. Besides the pairs of oppositely charged optical vortex solitons, the snake instability of the dark formation at moderate saturation is found to lead to generation of steering mixed edge–screw phase dislocations with zero total topological charges. Received: 26 October 1998 / Revised version: 19 January 1999 / Published online: 12 May 1999     

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     

Eigenfunctions and Eigenvalues for a Scalar Riemann–Hilbert Problem Associated to Inverse Scattering

A complete set of eigenfunctions is introduced within the Riemann–Hilbert formalism for spectral problems associated to some solvable nonlinear evolution equations. In particular, we consider the time-independent and time-dependent Schr?dinger problems which are related to the KdV and KPI equations possessing solitons and lumps, respectively. Non-standard scalar products, orthogonality and completeness relations are derived for these problems. The complete set of eigenfunctions is used for perturbation theory and bifurcation analysis of eigenvalues supported by the potentials under perturbations. We classify two different types of bifurcations of new eigenvalues and analyze their characteristic features. One type corresponds to thresholdless generation of solitons in the KdV equation, while the other predicts a threshold for generation of lumps in the KPI equation. Received: 17 December 1998/ Accepted: 21 July 1999     

Quantum space-times in the year 2002

We review certain emergent notions on the nature of space-time from noncommutative geometry and their radical implications. These ideas of space-time are suggested from developments in fuzzy physics, string theory, and deformation quantization. The review focuses on the ideas coming from fuzzy physics. We find models of quantum space-time like fuzzy S ⁴ on which states cannot be localized, but which fluctuate into other manifolds like CP³. New uncertainty principles concerning such lack of localizability on quantum space-times are formulated. Such investigations show the possibility of formulating and answering questions like the probability of finding a point of a quantum manifold in a state localized on another one. Additional striking possibilities indicated by these developments is the (generic) failure of CPT theorem and the conventional spin-statistics connection. They even suggest that Planck’s ‘constant’ may not be a constant, but an operator which does not commute with all observables. All these novel possibilities arise within the rules of conventional quantum physics, and with no serious input from gravity physics.     

From Large N Matrices to the Noncommutative Torus

We describe how and to what extent the noncommutative two-torus can be approximated by a tower of finite-dimensional matrix geometries. The approximation is carried out for both irrational and rational deformation parameters by embedding the C ^*-algebra of the noncommutative torus into an approximately finite algebra. The construction is a rigorous derivation of the recent discretizations of noncommutative gauge theories using finite dimensional matrix models, and it shows precisely how the continuum limits of these models must be taken. We clarify various aspects of Morita equivalence using this formalism and describe some applications to noncommutative Yang–Mills theory. Received: 24 December 1999 / Accepted: 7 October 2000     

Hard soliton excitation regime: Stability investigation

The problem of the stability of one-dimensional solitons in the hard regime of soliton excitation, where the matrix element of the four-wave interaction has an additional smallness, is studied. It is that shown for optical solitons striction can weaken the Kerr nonlinearity. It is shown that solitons with a finite amplitude discontinuity at the critical soliton velocity, equal to the minimum phase velocity of linear waves, are unstable while solitons with a soft transition remain stable with respect to one-dimensional perurbations. Two-and three-dimensional solitons near threshold are unstable with respect to modulation perturbations. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 116, 299–317 (July 1999)     

Novel spatial solitons in light-induced photonic bandgap structures

The study of wave propagation in periodic systems is at the frontiers of physics, from fluids to condensed matter physics, and from photonic crystals to Bose-Einstein condensates. In optics, a typical example of periodic system is a closely-spaced waveguide array, in which collective behavior of wave propagation exhibits many intriguing phenomena that have no counterpart in homogeneous media. Even in a linear waveguide array, the diffraction property of a light beam changes due to evanescent coupling between nearby waveguide sites, leading to normal and anomalous discrete diffraction. In a nonlinear waveguide array, a balance between diffraction and self-action gives rise to novel localized states such as spatial “discrete solitons” in the semi-infinite (or total-internal-reflection) gap or spatial “gap solitons” in the Bragg reflection gaps. Recently, in a series of experiments, we have “fabricated” closely-spaced waveguide arrays (photonic lattices) by optical induction. Such photonic structures have attracted great interest due to their novel physics, link to photonic crystals, as well as potential applications in optical switching and navigation. In this review article, we present a brief overview on our experimental demonstrations of a number of novel spatial soliton phenomena in light-induced photonic bandgap structures, including self-trapping of fundamental discrete solitons and more sophisticated lattice gap solitons. Much of our work has direct impact on the study of similar discrete phenomena in systems beyond optics, including sound waves, water waves, and matter waves (Bose-Einstein condensates) propagating in periodic potentials.      

Solitons and vortices in lasers

We give in this article the mathematical background for pattern formation in nonlinear active resonators, elucidating the relation of optics with other fields of physics, and demonstrate experimentally the existence, properties, and dynamics of: (i) vortices in lasers, (ii) bright spatial solitons in lasers with saturable absorber, and (iii) spatial solitons in degenerate parametric mixing. All these structures are by definition bistable so that they are potentially useful for parallel optical information processing. Received: 8 June 1998     

Search for contact interactions in deep inelastic e^+p\to e^+X scattering at HERA

In a search for signatures of physics processes beyond the Standard Model, various eeqq vector contact–interaction hypotheses have been tested using the high– deep inelastic neutral–current scattering data collected with the ZEUS detector at HERA. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of of interactions at 300 GeV center–of–mass energy. No significant evidence of a contact–interaction signal has been found. Limits at the 95% confidence level are set on the contact–interaction amplitudes. The effective mass scales corresponding to these limits range from 1.7 TeV to 5 TeV for the contact–interaction scenarios considered. Received: 18 May 1999 / Revised version: 14 January 2000 / Published online: 25 February 2000     

Conservative, unconditionally stable discretization methods for Hamiltonian equations, applied to wave motion in lattice equations modeling protein molecules

A new approach is described for generating exactly energy-momentum conserving time discretizations for a wide class of Hamiltonian systems of DEs with quadratic momenta, including mechanical systems with central forces; it is well-suited in particular to the large systems that arise in both spatial discretizations of nonlinear wave equations and lattice equations such as the Davydov System modeling energetic pulse propagation in protein molecules. The method is unconditionally stable, making it well-suited to equations of broadly “Discrete NLS form”, including many arising in nonlinear optics.Key features of the resulting discretizations are exact conservation of both the Hamiltonian and quadratic conserved quantities related to continuous linear symmetries, preservation of time reversal symmetry, unconditional stability, and respecting the linearity of certain terms. The last feature allows a simple, efficient iterative solution of the resulting nonlinear algebraic systems that retain unconditional stability, avoiding the need for full Newton-type solvers. One distinction from earlier work on conservative discretizations is a new and more straightforward nearly canonical procedure for constructing the discretizations, based on a “discrete gradient calculus with product rule” that mimics the essential properties of partial derivatives.This numerical method is then used to study the Davydov system, revealing that previously conjectured continuum limit approximations by NLS do not hold, but that sech-like pulses related to NLS solitons can nevertheless sometimes arise.     

Classical topology and quantum states

Any two infinite-dimensional (separable) Hilbert spaces are unitarily isomorphic. The sets of all their self-adjoint operators are also therefore unitarily equivalent. Thus if all self-adjoint operators can be observed, and if there is no further major axiom in quantum physics than those formulated for example in Dirac’s ‘quantum mechanics’, then a quantum physicist would not be able to tell a torus from a hole in the ground. We argue that there are indeed such axioms involving observables with smooth time evolution: they contain commutative subalgebras from which the spatial slice of spacetime with its topology (and with further refinements of the axiom, its C ^K - and C ^--structures) can be reconstructed using Gel’fand-Naimark theory and its extensions. Classical topology is an attribute of only certain quantum observables for these axioms, the spatial slice emergent from quantum physics getting progressively less differentiable with increasingly higher excitations of energy and eventually altogether ceasing to exist. After formulating these axioms, we apply them to show the possibility of topology change and to discuss quantized fuzzy topologies. Fundamental issues concerning the role of time in quantum physics are also addressed.     

Non-linear soliton excitations in antiferromagnetic chains

Topological excitations play a crucial role in antiferromagnetic chains. In the present review, we focus on the dynamical fluctuations induced by these quasi-particles, trying to show how they can be observed experimentally. In particular the pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique can probe these fluctuations at very low frequency. In the same context, neutron spin echo (NSE) measurements are briefly mentioned. A discussion of soliton magnetic resonance (SMR) measurements in also presented: they reveal the existence of internal precessions in the solitons (Dyons) and they show that the uniform (q=0) soliton modes can be detected directly. The experimental data to be discussed were obtained on three compounds: TMMC which provides good examples for “broad” solitons and CsCoCl₃ for “narrow” solitons. A discussion of NMR data obtained with NENP is given in the context of the Haldane's conjecture. Member of Equipe de Recherche CNRS no. 216.     

Measurement and interpretation of fermion-pair production at LEP energies from 130 to 172 GeV

The data collected with the DELPHI detector at centre-of-mass energies between 130 and 172 GeV, during LEP operation in 1995 and 1996, have been used to determine the hadronic and leptonic cross-sections and leptonic forward–backward asymmetries. In addition, the cross-section ratios and forward–backward asymmetries for flavour-tagged samples of light (uds), c and b quarks have been measured. No significant deviations from the Standard Model expectations are found. The results are interpreted by performing S-matrix fits to these data and to the data collected previously at the energies near the resonance peak (88-93 GeV). The results are also interpreted in terms of physics beyond the Standard Model: contact interactions, R-parity violating SUSY particle exchange and of possible Z bosons. Received: 9 February 1999 / Published online: 14 October 1999     

Solitons in semiconductor microstructures with a two-dimensional electron gas

Nonlinear waves in a two-dimensional electronic plasma with metal screening gates are investigated. It is shown that solitons described by the KdV equation exist in such a system. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 70, No. 7, 479–481 (10 October 1999)     

Dynamics of large-amplitude solitons

The interaction and generation of solitons in nonlinear integrable systems which allow the existence of a soliton of limiting amplitude are considered. The integrable system considered is the Gardner equation, which includes the Korteweg-de Vries equation (for quadratic nonlinearity) and the modified Korteweg-de Vries equation (for cubic nonlinearity) as special cases. A two-soliton solution of the Gardner equation is derived, and a criterion, which distinguishes between different scenarios for the interaction of two solitons, is determined. The evolution of an initial pulsed disturbance is considered. It is shown, in particular, that solitons of opposite polarity appear during such evolution on the crest of a limiting soliton. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 116, 318–335 (July 1999)     

Development of stochastic oscillations in a one-dimensional dynamical system described by the Korteweg-de Vries equation

The behavior of the solution of the Korteweg-de Vries equation for large-scale oscillating periodic initial conditions prescribed on the entire x axis is considered. It is shown that the structure of small-scale oscillations arising in a Korteweg-de Vries system as t→∞ loses its dynamical properties as a consequence of phase mixing. This process can be called the generation of soliton turbulence. The infinite system of interacting solitons with random phases developing under these conditions leads to oscillations having a stochastic character. Such a system can be described using the terms applied to a continuous random process, the probability density and correlation function. It is shown that for this it suffices to determine from the prescribed initial conditions amplitude distribution function of the solitons and their mean spatial density. The limiting stochastic characteristics of the mixed state for problems with initial data in the form of an infinite sequence of isolated small-scale pulses are found. Also, the problem of stochastic mixing under arbitrary initial conditions in the dispersionless limit (the Hopf equation) is completely solved. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 115, 333–360 (January 1999)     

Soliton-like solutions for the nonlinear schr?dinger equation with variable quadratic hamiltonians

We construct one-soliton solutions for the nonlinear Schr¨odinger equation with variable quadratic Hamiltonians in a unified form by taking advantage of the complete (super) integrability of generalized harmonic oscillators. The soliton-wave evolution in external fields with variable quadratic potentials is totally determined by the linear problem, like motion of a classical particle with acceleration, and the (self-similar) soliton shape is due to a subtle balance between the linear Hamiltonian (dispersion and potential) and nonlinearity in the Schr¨odinger equation by the standards of soliton theory. Most linear (hypergeometric, Bessel) and a few nonlinear (Jacobian elliptic, second Painlev′e transcendental) classical special functions of mathematical physics are linked together through these solutions, thus providing a variety of nonlinear integrable cases. Examples include bright and dark solitons and Jacobi elliptic and second Painlev′e transcendental solutions for several variable Hamiltonians that are important for research in nonlinear optics, plasma physics, and Bose–Einstein condensation. The Feshbach-resonance matter-wave-soliton management is briefly discussed from this new perspective.     

Model for Topological Fermions

 We introduce a model designed to describe charged particles as stable topological solitons of a field with values on the internal space S ³. These solitons behave like particles with relativistic properties like Lorentz contraction and velocity dependence of mass. This mass is defined by the energy of the soliton. In this sense this model is a generalization of the Sine-Gordon model¹(We do not chase the aim to give a four-dimensional generalization of Coleman’s isomorphism between the Sine-Gordon model and the Thirring model which was shown in 2-dimensional space-time) from 1 + 1-dimensions to 3 + 1-dimensions, from S ¹ to S ³. For large distances from the centre of solitons this model tends to a dual U(1)-theory with freely propagating electromagnetic waves. Already at the classical level it describes important effects, which usually have to be explained by quantum field theory, like particle-antiparticle annihilation and the running of the coupling. Received November 30, 1999; revised June 20, 2000; accepted for publication October 2, 2000     

An Extended Fuzzy Supersphere and¶Twisted Chiral Superfields

A noncommutative associative algebra of the N= 2 fuzzy supersphere is introduced. It turns out to possess a nontrivial automorphism which relates twisted chiral to twisted anti-chiral superfields and hence makes it possible to construct noncommutative nonlinear σ-models with extended supersymmetry. Received: 29 March 1999 / Accepted: 8 April 1999     

Physics of atomic collisions in retrospect

The classic work by Mott and Massey, in which the scope of the physics of atomic collisions was defined, was published about 65 years ago. Since then, this field has undergone considerable development. In fact, all the theoretical methods named by Mott and Massey have been implemented to some extent. As for experiment, the measurements performed, which are differential with respect to several parameters, have provided for reliable testing of the mechanisms proposed. The physics of atomic collisions has been developed to the point that we can look back on the road taken and discover many achievements which have promoted its development. Progress in science is usually associated with highly concentrated efforts on the part of a critical number of investigators to solve a specific problem, which is widely regarded as being of great importance. Such a “breakthrough” is usually followed by rapid development of the field. In this respect, the physics of atomic collisions is no exception. It has known periods of highly concentrated efforts aimed at solving specific problems and breakthroughs followed by rapid development and subsequent periods of stagnation. The cycles have repeated: a new area for concentrated efforts is discovered, a breakthrough occurs, and a new concept is established. Some of these cycles are analyzed from the standpoint of their significance to atomic physics as a whole. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 22–26 (September 1999)