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Related Experiment Video

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Direct Imaging of Laser-driven Ultrafast Molecular Rotation

Direct Imaging of Laser-driven Ultrafast Molecular Rotation

Published on: February 4, 2017

Vortical light bullets in second-harmonic-generating media supported by a trapping potential.

Hidetsugu Sakaguchi¹, Boris A Malomed

¹Department of Applied Science for Electronics and Materials, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan. sakaguchi@asem.kyushu-u.ac.jp

|April 24, 2013

Summary

We found that three-dimensional (3D) optical solitons with embedded vorticity can be stabilized by a harmonic-oscillator potential. This potential prevents splitting and allows for predictable shapes and collisions.

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Area of Science:

Nonlinear Optics
Soliton Physics
Mathematical Modeling

Background:

Three-dimensional (3D) optical solitons with quadratic (χ((2))) nonlinearity and embedded vorticity, known as vortical light bullets, are typically unstable in free space.
Understanding the stability and dynamics of such solitons is crucial for optical communication and material processing applications.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the stability of 3D vortical solitons in optical media with a quadratic nonlinearity and an effective 2D isotropic harmonic-oscillator (HO) potential.
To explore the influence of the HO potential on soliton stability, shape prediction, and collision dynamics.

Main Methods:

Development of a 3D model incorporating quadratic nonlinearity and an effective 2D isotropic HO potential.
Application of variational approximation (VA) to predict the shape of vortical solitons.
Numerical simulations to analyze soliton stability, existence thresholds, and collision outcomes.

Main Results:

Demonstration of a broad stability region for 3D vortical solitons supported by the HO potential, counteracting splitting instability.
Accurate prediction of soliton shapes using VA, with existence dependent on energy thresholds and a stability boundary.
Observation of shape oscillations above the stability boundary and strongly inelastic collisions resulting in soliton fragmentation.

Conclusions:

The harmonic-oscillator potential significantly enhances the stability of 3D optical solitons with embedded vorticity.
The study suggests the potential for creating stable 3D optical solitons with intrinsic vorticity, opening new avenues for optical technologies.