arXiv subjects

Boris A. Malomed

Publications and source records attributed to Boris A. Malomed.

At least 415 records · Page 23Linked to original sources

arXiv2012

Wave modes trapped in rotating nonlinear potentials

We study modes trapped in a rotating ring with the local strength of the nonlinearity modulated as cos(2θ), where θis the azimuthal angle. This modulation pattern may be of three different types: self-focusing (SF), self-defocusing (SDF), and alternating SF-SDF. The model, based on the nonlinear Schrodinger (NLS) equation with periodic boundary conditions, applies to the light propagation in a twisted pipe waveguide, and to a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) loaded into a toroidal trap, under the action of the rotating nonlinear pseudopotential induced by means of the Feshbach resonance in an inhomogeneous external field. In the SF, SDF, and alternating regimes, four, three, and five different types of stable trapped modes are identified, respectively: even, odd, second-harmonic (2H), symmetry-breaking, and 2H-breaking ones. The shapes and stability of these modes, together with transitions between them, are investigated in the first rotational Brillouin zone. Ground-state modes are identified in each regime. Boundaries between symmetric and asymmetric modes are also obtained in an analytical form, by of a two-mode approximation.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2012

Pinned modes in lossy lattices with local gain and nonlinearity

We introduce a discrete linear lossy system with an embedded "hot spot" (HS), i.e., a site carrying linear gain and complex cubic nonlinearity. The system can be used to model an array of optical or plasmonic waveguides, where selective excitation of particular cores is possible. Localized modes pinned to the HS are constructed in an implicit analytical form, and their stability is investigated numerically. Stability regions for the modes are obtained in the parameter space of the linear gain and cubic gain/loss. An essential result is that the interaction of the unsaturated cubic gain and self-defocusing nonlinearity can produce stable modes, although they may be destabilized by finite amplitude perturbations. On the other hand, the interplay of the cubic loss and self-defocusing gives rise to a bistability.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2012

Bright solitons in defocusing media with spatial modulation of the quintic nonlinearity

It has been recently demonstrated that self-defocusing (SDF) media with the cubic nonlinearity, whose local coefficient grows from the center to periphery fast enough, support stable bright solitons, without the use of any linear potential. Our objective is to test the genericity of this mechanism for other nonlinearities, by applying it to one- and two-dimensional (1D and 2D) quintic SDF media. The models may be implemented in optics (in particular, in colloidal suspensions of nanoparticles), and the 1D model may be applied to the description of the Tonks-Girardeau gas of ultracold bosons. In 1D, the nonlinearity-modulation function is taken as $% g_{0}+\sinh ^{2}(βx) $. This model admits a subfamily of exact solutions for fundamental solitons. Generic \ soliton solutions are constructed in a numerical form, and also by means of the Thomas-Fermi and variational approximations (TFA and VA). In particular, a new ansatz for the VA is proposed, in the form of "raised $\mathrm{sech}$", which provides for an essentially better accuracy than the usual Gaussian ansatz. The stability of all the fundamental (nodeless) 1D solitons is established through the computation of the corresponding eigenvalues for small perturbations, and also verified by direct simulations. Higher-order 1D solitons with two nodes have a limited stability region, all the modes with more than two nodes being unstable. It is concluded that the recently proposed "anti-VK" stability criterion for fundamental bright solitons in systems with SDF nonlinearities holds here too. Particular exact solutions for 2D solitons are produced as well.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2012

Stabilizing single- and two-color vortex beams in quadratic media by a trapping potential

We consider two-dimensional (2D) localized modes in the second-harmonic-generating χ^{(2)} system with the harmonic-oscillator (HO) trapping potential. In addition to its realization in optics, the system describes the mean-field dynamics of mixed atomic-molecular Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). The existence and stability of various modes is determined by their total power, N, topological charge, m/2 [m is the intrinsic vorticity of the second-harmonic (SH) field], and χ^{(2)} mismatch, q. The analysis is carried out in a numerical form and, in parallel, by means of the variational approximation (VA), which produces results that agree well with numerical findings. Below a certain power threshold, N\leq N_{c}^{(m)}(q), all trapped modes are of the single-color type, represented by the SH component only, while the fundamental-frequency (FF) one is absent. In contrast with the usual situation, where such modes are always unstable, we demonstrate\ that they are stable, for m=0,1,2 (the mode with m=1 may be formally considered as a semi-vortex with topological charge m/2=1/2), at N\leq N_{c}^{(m)}(q), and unstable above this threshold. On the other hand, N_{c}^{(m)}(q)\equiv 0 at q\geq q_{\max} (in our notation, q_{\max}=1$), hence the single-color modes are unstable in the latter case. At N=N_{c}^{(m)}, the modes with m=0 and m=2 undergo a pitchfork bifurcation, which gives rise to two-color states, which remain completely stable for m=0. The two-color vortices with m=2 (topological charge 1) have an upper stability border, N=N_{c2}(q). Above the border, they exhibit periodic splittings and recombinations, while keeping their vorticity. The semi-vortex does not bifurcate; at N=N_{c}^{(m=1)}, it exhibits quasi-chaotic oscillations and a rotating "groove" resembling a screw-edge dislocation induced by the semi-integer vorticity.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2012

Nonlinear modes and symmetry breaking in rotating double-well potentials

We study modes trapped in a rotating ring carrying the self-focusing (SF) or defocusing (SDF) cubic nonlinearity and double-well potential $\cos^{2}θ$, where $θ$ is the angular coordinate. The model, based on the nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation in the rotating reference frame, describes the light propagation in a twisted pipe waveguide, as well as in other optical settings, and also a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC)trapped in a torus and dragged by the rotating potential. In the SF and SDF regimes, five and four trapped modes of different symmetries are found, respectively. The shapes and stability of the modes, and transitions between them are studied in the first rotational Brillouin zone. In the SF regime, two symmetry-breaking transitions are found, of subcritical and supercritical types. In the SDF regime, an antisymmetry-breaking transition occurs. Ground-states are identified in both the SF and SDF systems.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2012

Nonlinear PT-symmetric plaquettes

We introduce four basic two-dimensional (2D) plaquette configurations with onsite cubic nonlinearities, which may be used as building blocks for 2D PT -symmetric lattices. For each configuration, we develop a dynamical model and examine its PT symmetry. The corresponding nonlinear modes are analyzed starting from the Hamiltonian limit, with zero value of the gain-loss coefficient. Once the relevant waveforms have been identified (chiefly, in an analytical form), their stability is examined by means of linearization in the vicinity of stationary points. This reveals diverse and, occasionally, fairly complex bifurcations. The evolution of unstable modes is explored by means of direct simulations. In particular, stable localized modes are found in these systems, although the majority of identified solutions is unstable.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2012

Generations of polygonal soliton clusters and fundamental solitons by radially-azimuthally phase-modulated necklace-ring beams in dissipative systems

We demonstrate that, in a two-dimensional dissipative medium described by the cubic-quintic (CQ) complex Ginzburg-Landau (CGL) equation with the viscous (spectral-filtering) term, necklace rings carrying a mixed radial-azimuthal phase modulation can evolve into polygonal or quasi-polygonal stable soliton clusters, and into stable fundamental solitons. The outcome of the evolution is controlled by the depth and azimuthal anharmonicity of the phase-modulation profile, or by the radius and number of "beads" in the initial necklace ring. Threshold characteristics of the evolution of the patterns are identified and explained. Parameter regions for the formation of the stable polygonal and quasi-polygonal soliton clusters, and of stable fundamental solitons, are identified. The model with the CQ terms replaced by the full saturable nonlinearity produces essentially the same set of the basic dynamical scenarios; hence this set is a universal one for the CGL models.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2012

Symmetric and asymmetric solitons in a nonlocal nonlinear coupler

We study effects of nonlocality of the cubic self-focusing nonlinearity on the stability and symmetry-breaking bifurcation (SBB) of solitons in the model of a planar dual-core optical waveg- uide with nonlocal (thermal) nonlinearity. In comparison with the well-known coupled systems with the local nonlinearity, the present setting is affected by the competition of different spatial scales, viz., the coupling length and correlation radius of the nonlocality, $\sqrt{d}$. By means of numer- ical methods and variational approximation (VA, which is relevant for small d), we find that, with the increase of the correlation radius, the SBB changes from subcritical into supercritical, which makes all the asymmetric solitons stable. On the other hand, the nonlocality has little influence on the stability of antisymmetric solitons. Analytical results for the SBB are also obtained (actually, for antisymmetric "accessible solitons") in the opposite limit of the ultra-nonlocal nonlinearity, using a coupler based on the Snyder-Mitchell model. The results help to grasp the general picture of the symmetry breaking in nonlocal couplers.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2012

Matter-wave solitons with the minimum number of particles in two-dimensional quasiperiodic potentials

We report results of systematic numerical studies of 2D matter-wave soliton families supported by an external potential, in a vicinity of the junction between stable and unstable branches of the families, where the norm of the solution attains a minimum, facilitating the creation of the soliton. The model is based on the Gross-Pitaevskii equation for the self-attractive condensate loaded into a quasiperiodic (QP) optical lattice (OL). The same model applies to spatial optical solitons in QP photonic crystals. Dynamical properties and stability of the solitons are analyzed with respect to variations of the depth and wavenumber of the OL. In particular, it is found that the single-peak solitons are stable or not in exact accordance with the Vakhitov-Kolokolov (VK) criterion, while double-peak solitons, which are found if the OL wavenumber is small enough, are always unstable against splitting.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2012

Stable bright and vortex solitons in photonic crystal fibers with inhomogeneous defocusing nonlinearity

We predict that a photonic crystal fiber whose strands are filled with a defocusing nonlinear medium can support stable bright and also vortex solitons if the strength of the defocusing nonlinearity grows toward the periphery of the fiber. The domains of soliton existence depend on the transverse growth rate of the filling nonlinearity and nonlinearity of the core. Remarkably, solitons exist even when the core material is linear.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2012

Families of solitons in Bragg supergratings

We study fundamental optical gap solitons in the model of a fiber Bragg grating (BG), which is subjected to a periodic modulation of the local reflectivity, giving rise to a supergrating. In addition, the local refractive index is also periodically modulated with the same period. It is known that the supergrating opens an infinite system of new bandgaps in the BG's spectrum. We use a combination of analytical and computational methods to show that each emerging bandgap is filled with gap solitons (GSs), including asymmetric ones and bound states of the GSs. In particular, bifurcations of the GSs created by the supergrating are studied in terms of a geometric analysis.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2012

Wave scattering on a domain wall in a chain of PT-symmetric couplers

We study wave propagation in linear arrays composed of pairs of conjugate waveguides with balanced gain and loss, i.e. arrays of the PT-symmetric couplers, where the linear spectrum is known to feature high-frequency and low-frequency branches. We introduce a domain wall by switching the gain and loss in a half of the array, and analyze the scattering of linear waves on this defect. The analysis reveals two major effects: amplification of both reflected and transmitted waves, and excitation of the reflected and transmitted low-frequency and high-frequency waves by the incident high-frequency and low-frequency waves, respectively.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2012

Solitons supported by singular spatial modulation of the Kerr nonlinearity

We introduce a setting based on the one-dimensional (1D) nonlinear Schroedinger equation (NLSE) with the self-focusing (SF) cubic term modulated by a singular function of the coordinate, |x|^{-a}. It may be additionally combined with the uniform self-defocusing (SDF) nonlinear background, and with a similar singular repulsive linear potential. The setting, which can be implemented in optics and BEC, aims to extend the general analysis of the existence and stability of solitons in NLSEs. Results for fundamental solitons are obtained analytically and verified numerically. The solitons feature a quasi-cuspon shape, with the second derivative diverging at the center, and are stable in the entire existence range, which is 0 < a < 1. Dipole (odd) solitons are found too. They are unstable in the infinite domain, but stable in the semi-infinite one. In the presence of the SDF background, there are two subfamilies of fundamental solitons, one stable and one unstable, which exist together above a threshold value of the norm (total power of the soliton). The system which additionally includes the singular repulsive linear potential emulates solitons in a uniform space of the fractional dimension, 0 < D < 1. A two-dimensional extension of the system, based on the quadratic nonlinearity, is formulated too.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2012

Spontaneous symmetry breaking of binary fields in a nonlinear double-well structure

We introduce a one-dimensional two-component system with the self-focusing cubic nonlinearity concentrated at a symmetric set of two spots. Effects of the spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) of localized modes were previously studied in the single-component version of this system. In this work, we study the evolution (in the configuration space of the system) and SSB scenarios for two-component modes of three generic types, as concerns the spatial symmetry of each component: symmetric-symmetric (Sm-Sm), antisymmetric-antisymmetric (AS-AS), and symmetric-antisymmetric (S-AS) ones. In the limit case of the nonlinear potential represented by two $% δ$-functions, solutions are obtained in a semi-analytical form. They feature novel properties, in comparison with the previously studied single-component model. In particular, the SSB of antisymmetric modes is possible solely in the two-component system, and, obviously, S-AS states exist only in the two-component system too. In the general case of the symmetric pair of finite-width nonlinear potential wells, evolution scenarios are very complex. In this case, new results are reported, first, for the single-component model. These are pairs of broken-antisymmetry modes, and of twin-peak symmetric ones, which are generated by saddle-mode bifurcations separated from the transformations previously studied in the the single-component setting. With regard to these findings, complex scenarios of the evolution of the two-component solution families are realized in terms of links connecting pairs of modes of three simplest types: (A) two-component ones with unbroken symmetries; (B) single-component modes featuring density peaks in both potential wells; (C) single-component modes which are trapped, essentially, in a single well.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2012

Spatial solitons under competing linear and nonlinear diffractions

We introduce a general model which augments the one-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation by nonlinear-diffraction terms competing with the linear diffraction. The new terms contain two irreducible parameters and admit a Hamiltonian representation in a form natural for optical media. The equation serves as a model for spatial solitons near the supercollimation point in nonlinear photonic crystals. In the framework of this model, a detailed analysis of the fundamental solitary waves is reported, including the variational approximation (VA), exact analytical results, and systematic numerical computations. The Vakhitov-Kolokolov (VK) criterion is used to precisely predict the stability border for the solitons, which is found in an exact analytical form, along with the largest total power (norm) that the waves may possess. Past a critical point, collapse effects are observed, caused by suitable perturbations. Interactions between two identical parallel solitary beams are explored by dint of direct numerical simulations. It is found that in-phase solitons merge into robust or collapsing pulsons, depending on the strength of the nonlinear diffraction.

math-ph↗

arXiv2012

Stable two-dimensional solitons supported by radially inhomogeneous self-focusing nonlinearity

We demonstrate that modulation of the local strength of the cubic self-focusing (SF) nonlinearity in the two-dimensional (2D) geometry, in the form of a circle with contrast $Δg$ of the SF coefficient relative to the ambient medium with a weaker nonlinearity, stabilizes a family of fundamental solitons against the critical collapse. The result is obtained in an analytical form, using the variational approximation (VA) and Vakhitov-Kolokolov (VK) stability criterion, and corroborated by numerical computations. For the small contrast, the stability interval of the soliton's norm scales as $ΔN\sim Δg$ (the replacement of the circle by an annulus leads to a reduction of the stability region by perturbations breaking the axial symmetry). To further illustrate this mechanism, we demonstrate, in an exact form, the stabilization of 1D solitons against the critical collapse under the action of a locally enhanced quintic SF nonlinearity.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2012

Unstaggered-staggered solitons in two-component discrete nonlinear Schrödinger lattices

We present stable bright solitons built of coupled unstaggered and staggered components in a symmetric system of two discrete nonlinear Schrödinger (DNLS) equations with the attractive self-phase-modulation (SPM) nonlinearity, coupled by the repulsive cross-phase-modulation (XPM) interaction. These mixed modes are of a "symbiotic" type, as each component in isolation may only carry ordinary unstaggered solitons. The results are obtained in an analytical form, using the variational and Thomas-Fermi approximations (VA and TFA), and the generalized Vakhitov-Kolokolov (VK) criterion for the evaluation of the stability. The analytical predictions are verified against numerical results. Almost all the symbiotic solitons are predicted by the VA quite accurately, and are stable. Close to a boundary of the existence region of the solitons (which may feature several connected branches), there are broad solitons which are not well approximated by the VA, and are unstable.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2012

Stable periodic density waves in dipolar Bose-Einstein condensates trapped in optical lattices

Density-wave patterns in (quasi-) discrete media with local interactions are known to be unstable. We demonstrate that \emph{stable} double- and triple- period patterns (DPPs and TPPs), with respect to the period of the underlying lattice, exist in media with nonlocal nonlinearity. This is shown in detail for dipolar Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs), loaded into a deep one-dimensional (1D) optical lattice (OL), by means of analytical and numerical methods in the tight-binding limit. The patterns featuring multiple periodicities are generated by the modulational instability of the continuous-wave (CW) state, whose period is identical to that of the OL. The DPP and TPP emerge via phase transitions of the second and first kind, respectively. The emerging patterns may be stable provided that the dipole-dipole (DD) interactions are repulsive and sufficiently strong, in comparison with the local repulsive nonlinearity. Within the set of the considered states, the TPPs realize a minimum of the free energy. Accordingly, a vast stability region for the TPPs is found in the parameter space, while the DPP\ stability region is relatively narrow. The same mechanism may create stable density-wave patterns in other physical media featuring nonlocal interactions, such as arrayed optical waveguides with thermal nonlinearity.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗