Influence of high-order dispersion on self-focusing. I. Qualitative investigation

The self-focusing, described by the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with a higher-order derivative term, appearing from dispersive corrections, is considered. A qualitative investigation shows that this term, even if it is small, may play an important role in the final state of the self-focusing. Depending on the sign of a coefficient before this term, it may lead either to a tunneling of the self-trapped radiation, which finally results in defocusing, or to a steady homogeneous wave beam.