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Nonlinearity and disorder in fiber arrays
Thomas Pertsch1, Ulf Peschel, Jens Kobelke
1Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Max-Wien-Platz 1, 07743 Jena, Germany.
Physical Review Letters
|August 25, 2004
Summary
We studied light in disordered optical fiber arrays. Nonlinearity can form discrete solitons from spreading light or alter localized light behavior, showing complex light dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Nonlinear optics
- Condensed matter physics
- Photonics
Background:
- Light propagation in disordered systems is complex.
- Optical fiber arrays offer a platform to study wave phenomena.
- Nonlinearity significantly alters wave behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally investigate light propagation in a 2D disordered array of mutually coupled optical fibers.
- To explore the effects of focusing nonlinearity on light dynamics.
- To understand the transition from linear to nonlinear light behavior.
Main Methods:
- Experimental setup using a 2D disordered array of mutually coupled optical fibers.
- Varying excitation power to observe linear and nonlinear regimes.
- Analyzing light spreading and localization phenomena.
Main Results:
- In the linear regime, light exhibited diffusive spreading or site localization.
- At high power, focusing nonlinearity arrested diffusive spreading, forming discrete solitons.
- Nonlinearity caused both spreading and contraction of initially localized fields.
Conclusions:
- The focusing nonlinearity plays a crucial role in controlling light propagation in disordered fiber arrays.
- Discrete solitons can form, altering the expected diffusive behavior.
- Nonlinearity introduces complex dynamics for localized states, leading to spreading or contraction.