Dissipative Vortex Solitons in Defocusing Media with Spatially Inhomogeneous Nonlinear Absorption

In this paper, by solving a complex nonlinear Schr¨odinger equation, radially symmetric dissipative vortex solitons are obtained analytically and are tested numerically. We find that spatially inhomogeneous nonlinear absorption gives rise to the stability of dissipative vortex solitons in self-defocusing nonlinear medium in the presence of constant linear gain. Numerical simulation reveals the interaction effect among linear gain and nonlinear loss in the azimuthal modulation instabilities of these vortices suppression. Apart from the uniform linear gain indeed affects the stability of vortex in this media, another noticeable feature of current setup is that the steep spatial modulation of the nonlinear absorption can suppress sidelobes effectively and support stable vortex solitons in situations with uniform linear gain.Under appropriate conditions, the vortex solitons can propagate stably and feature no symmetry breaking, although the beams exhibit radical compression and amplification as they propagate.     

Curvilinear motion of multivortex laser-soliton complexes with strong and weak coupling

We reveal the existence of stable dissipative soliton complexes with curvilinear motion of their center of mass. This type of motion results from the field distribution asymmetry and is well pronounced for asymmetric complexes of laser solitons with strong coupling. We present results of numerical simulations of such complexes in a model of wide-aperture lasers or laser amplifiers with saturable gain and absorption. The complex consists of a pair of strongly coupled vortex solitons weakly coupled with a number of other vortex solitons. Similar complexes are expected to exist in different spatially distributed nonlinear dissipative systems, including schemes with discrete dissipative solitons.     

Stable radially symmetric and azimuthally modulated vortex solitons supported by localized gain

We discover that a spatially localized gain supports stable vortex solitons in media with cubic nonlinearity and two-photon absorption. The interplay between nonlinear losses and gain in amplifying rings results in the suppression of otherwise ubiquitous azimuthal modulation instabilities of radially symmetric vortex solitons. We find that the topology of the gain profile imposes restrictions on the maximal possible charge of vortex solitons. Symmetry breaking occurs at high gain levels, resulting in the formation of necklace vortex solitons composed of asymmetric bright spots.     

Spatial solitons in Kerr and Kerr-like media

This is a review paper of basic knowledge and recent advances in the area of spatial solitons in Kerr and Kerr-like media. We consider spatial bright and dark solitons, solitons in waveguide geometries, optical bullets, vortex solitons and, briefly, dissipative cases. In our treatment, we use a Hamiltonian approach when considering stability issues.     

Spinning solitons in cubic-quintic nonlinear media

We review recent theoretical results concerning the existence, stability and unique features of families of bright vortex solitons (doughnuts, or ‘spinning’ solitons) in both conservative and dissipative cubic-quintic nonlinear media.     

Generation of stable multi-vortex clusters in a dissipative medium with anti-cubic nonlinearity

We demonstrate the generation of vortex solitons in a model of dissipative optical media with the singular anti-cubic (AC) nonlinearity, by launching a vorticity-carrying Gaussian input into the medium modeled by the cubic-quintic complex Ginzburg-Landau equation. The effect of the AC term on the beam propagation is investigated in detail. An analytical result is produced for the asymptotic form of fundamental and vortical solitons at the point of $r\to 0$, which is imposed by the AC term. Numerical simulations identify parameter domains that maintain stable dissipative solitons in the form of vortex clusters. The number of vortices in the clusters is equal to the vorticity embedded in the Gaussian input.     

Three-dimensional dissipative optical solitons

A brief overview of recent theoretical results in the area of three-dimensional dissipative optical solitons is given. A systematic analysis demonstrates the existence and stability of both fundamental (spinless) and spinning three-dimensional dissipative solitons in both normal and anomalous group-velocity regimes. Direct numerical simulations of the evolution of stationary solitons of the three-dimensional cubic-quintic Ginzburg-Landau equation show full agreement with the predictions based on computation of the instability eigenvalues from the linearized equations for small perturbations. It is shown that the diffusivity in the transverse plane is necessary for the stability of vortex solitons against azimuthal perturbations, while fundamental (zero-vorticity) solitons may be stable in the absence of diffusivity. It has also been found that, at values of the nonlinear gain above the upper border of the soliton existence domain, the three-dimensional dissipative solitons either develop intrinsic pulsations or start to expand in the temporal (longitudinal) direction keeping their structure in the transverse spatial plane. Presented at 9-th International Workshop on Nonlinear Optics Applications, NOA 2007, May 17–20, 2007, Świnoujście, Poland     

Effect of finite relaxation rates on the stability of dissipative fiber Bragg solitons

We present a study of the effect of finite relaxation rates of media on the stability of dissipative solitons in single-mode fibers with longitudinal Bragg grating and nonlinear gain created by one active medium, and absorption created by one passive medium that gives the stability to solitons. The system of Maxwell–Bloch equations for this model is introduced. Based on the analysis of this system, it is shown that dissipative Bragg solitons are stable in the case when the active medium has greater relaxation rates than the passive medium.     

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.     

Collision Dynamics of Dissipative Matter-Wave Solitons in a Perturbed Optical Lattice

We investigate the stability and collision dynamics of dissipative matter-wave solitons formed in a quasi-onedimensional Bose-Einstein condensate with linear gain and three-body recombination loss perturbed by a weak optical lattice.It is shown that the linear gain can modify the stability of the single dissipative soliton moving in the optical lattice.The collision dynamics of two individual dissipative matter-wave solitons explicitly depend on the linear gain parameter,and they display different dynamical behaviors in both the in-phase and out-of-phase interaction regimes.     

Conservative and dissipative fiber Bragg solitons (a review)

We present a comparative review of two classes of optical solitons—conservative and dissipative solitons—propagating in single-mode optical fibers in which refractive-index gratings are induced such that their period is comparable with the radiation wavelength. Fibers that have the Kerr nonlinearity and negligibly small losses and that do not gain radiation (conservative system) are described by traditional equations of the approximation of slowly varying amplitudes, and effects caused by the nonlinearity of the medium, such as nonlinear switching, optical bistability, and formation of conservative Bragg solitons are considered. It is shown that the passage beyond the scope of the approximation of slowly varying amplitudes makes it possible to describe new important effects, including localization of soliton centers near maxima of the refractive-index grating. Bright and dark conservative solitons are demonstrated, which are formed when the Kerr nonlinearity is replaced by the nonlinearity of two-level atomic systems. The properties of conservative solitons in resonance semiconductor Bragg structures with quantum wells are considered. Results of experimental studies of nonlinear effects in fibers with Bragg gratings are presented. For an active single-mode fiber with a Bragg refractive-index grating and nonlinear gain and absorption, dissipative solitons are described using the approximation of slowly varying amplitudes and inertialess nonlinearity. It is shown that the dissipative factors qualitatively change the properties of solitons compared to the conservative case. Using the Maxwell-Bloch equations, it is demonstrated that the ratio between the gain and absorption relaxation times significantly affects the stability of localized structures. The interaction of dissipative optical Bragg solitons is described. It is shown that, beyond the scope of the approximation of slowly varying amplitudes, the average velocity of propagating dissipative Bragg solitons acquires only discrete values, and formation of pairs of solitons with two values of the phase difference becomes possible. For a birefringent fiber, dissipative vector optical Bragg solitons are demonstrated.     

强非局域介质中基于古依相位的旋转涡旋光孤子

利用强非局域非线性介质中傍轴光束传输的修正Snyder-Mitchell模型讨论了两束共线(即光束中心和传输方向都相同)拉盖尔-高斯型光孤子(CLGS)构成的涡旋光孤子传输过程。在一定条件下,涡旋光束在传输过程中,光束截面光斑发生旋转现象,但光束的束宽保持不变,称之为旋转涡旋光孤子。涡旋光孤子旋转的现象可以通过叠加光场中的古依相位来解释。结果展现了几个旋转涡旋光孤子在传输过程中的旋转现象和强非局域介质中多环形旋转涡旋光孤子的传输。     

Soliton switching in nonlinear couplers

We present a theoretical overview of soliton switching phenomena in two-mode nonlinear couplers. By complementing numerical studies with perturbative or exact solitary wave solutions, one finds that nonlinear Schrödinger or sine-Gordon solitons tend to maintain their identity in the coupled systems. Moreover, the coupling itself may originate novel vector solitary waves, such as gap solitons in periodic media. The switching dynamics in the presence of dissipative perturbations such as linear gain or intrapulse Raman scattering is also discussed.     

Rotating vortex solitons supported by localized gain

We show that ringlike localized gain landscapes imprinted in focusing cubic (Kerr) nonlinear media with strong two-photon absorption support new types of stable higher-order vortex solitons containing multiple phase singularities nested inside a single core. The phase singularities are found to rotate around the center of the gain landscape, with the rotation period being determined by the strength of the gain and the nonlinear absorption.     

Vortex solitons with inhomogeneous polarization in nonlocal self-focusing nonlinear media

Both azimuthally and radially polarized vortex solitons are investigated to be able to exist in highly nonlocal nonlinear media. We get exactly analytical solutions of azimuthally polarized vortex solitons with only polarization singularities and radially polarized vortex solitons with both phase singularities and polarization singularities. Both azimuthally and radially polarized vortex solitons can exist in nonlocal self-focusing nonlinear media with proper modulation of the beam power and the degree of nonlocality. Contrary to those of radially polarized counterparts in local Kerr media, the topological charge can be any integer. When the topological charge m ≠ 0, both phase singularities and polarization singularities work. When m = 0, the polarization singularities work. Azimuthally polarized vortex solitons with polarization singularities corresponds to the linearly polarized vortex solitons with single charge. Our results show that polarization singularities work the same way as phase singularities in some sense.     

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.     

Stability of elliptic vortex solitons in anisotropic nonlocal media

Elliptic vortex solitons are investigated in anisotropic nonlocal media with more general formulations. We address the existence and dynamics of such solitons analytically and numerically. The solution of elliptic vortex solitons depends on the eccentricity of both the input beam and nonlocal response function. With different degrees of nonlocality, we numerically investigate the evolution of the elliptic vortex solitons, and find that, typically, the elliptic vortex solitons with single and double charges collapse into spiraling dipole- and tripolelike soliton clusters, respectively.     

Formation of nonclassical states of vortex solitons in optical fibers with quantum dots

The problem of control for the quantum statistics of dissipative vortex optical solitons when using the Raman scheme of spin-flip transitions in an optical fiber doped with narrow-bandgap semiconductor quantum dots is considered. The possibility of forming individual bounded nonclassical quadrature squeezed light regions appearing within the spatial profile of a formed vortex soliton is demonstrated.     

Stable vortex tori in the three-dimensional cubic-quintic Ginzburg-Landau equation

We demonstrate the existence of stable toroidal dissipative solitons with the inner phase field in the form of rotating spirals, corresponding to vorticity S=0, 1, and 2, in the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation with the cubic-quintic nonlinearity. The stable solitons easily self-trap from pulses with embedded vorticity. The stability is corroborated by accurate computation of growth rates for perturbation eigenmodes. The results provide the first example of stable vortex tori in a 3D dissipative medium, as well as the first example of higher-order tori (with S=2) in any nonlinear medium. It is found that all stable vortical solitons coexist in a large domain of the parameter space; in smaller regions, there coexist stable solitons with either S=0 and S=1, or S=1 and S=2.     

Experimental observation of a vortex dissipative soliton at amplification on the basis of two-wave mixing with saturable absorption

The existence of topological spatial vortex dissipative solitons in an active cavity with a high (>100) Fresnel number, laser-like amplification on the basis of two-wave mixing, and saturable absorption is experimentally verified.