Dark & anti-dark spatiotemporal solitons: From cubic to cubic-quintic systems

Cowey, R; Christian, J M; McDonald, G S

Abstract

The origin of conventional models for optical pulse propagation lies in the universal slowly-varying envelope approximation (SVEA) accompanied by a Galilean boost to the local time frame. However, Biancalana and Creatore [1] have recently pointed out that the SVEA is not necessarily compatible with physical contexts involving spatial dispersion [2]. Their proposal has prompted us to reassess the way in which conventional pulse theory handles the linear part of the wave operator. In so-doing, we have constructed a framework for scalar optical pulses that is based upon transformation laws and frame-of-reference considerations [3]. Here, we present our most recent research analysing soliton propagation in systems with the universal cubic-quintic type of nonlinearity [4]. By deploying a range of analytical methods, we have been able to derive exact spatiotemporal dark and anti-dark solitons. These structures have a strongly geometrical flavour that is tightly connected to the symmetry properties of the governing equation. Multi-parameter asymptotic analyses demonstrate that classic conventional solitons are a subset of our new solutions. Extensive numerical calculations have also predicted a high degree of robustness of bright and dark pulses [see Figs. 1(a) and 1(b), respectively] against local perturbations to their temporal shape.

References
[1] F. Biancalana and C. Creatore, Opt. Express 16, 14882 (2008).
[2] V. M Agranovich and V. L. Ginzburg, Crystal optics with spatial dispersion, and excitons (Springer, Berlin, 1984).
[3] J. M. Christian, G. S. McDonald, T. F. Hodgkinson, and P. Chamorro-Posada, Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 033101 (2012).
[4] K. I. Pushkarov, D. I. Pushkarov, and I. V. Tomov, Opt. Quantum Electron. 11, 471 (1979).

Citation

Cowey, R., Christian, J. M., & McDonald, G. S. (2013, June). Dark & anti-dark spatiotemporal solitons: From cubic to cubic-quintic systems. Presented at College of Science & Technology Research Showcase, University of Salford, Greater Manchester M5 4WT, U.K

• Presentation Conference Type: Other
• Conference Name: College of Science & Technology Research Showcase
• Conference Location: University of Salford, Greater Manchester M5 4WT, U.K.
• Start Date: Jun 19, 2013
• Deposit Date: Jun 10, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 10, 2013
• Additional Information: Event Type : Conference