Engineering topics

Malomed, Boris A

Publications and source records attributed to Malomed, Boris A.

At least 19 records

DOE OSTI2011

Transfer and scattering of wave packets by a nonlinear trap

In the framework of a one-dimensional model with a tightly localized self-attractive nonlinearity, we study the formation and transfer (dragging) of a trapped mode by ''nonlinear tweezers,'' as well as the scattering of coherent linear wave packets on the stationary localized nonlinearity. The use of a nonlinear trap for dragging allows one to pick up and transfer the relevant structures without grabbing surrounding ''radiation.'' A stability border for the dragged modes is identified by means of analytical estimates and systematic simulations. In the framework of the scattering problem, the shares of trapped, reflected, and transmitted wave fields are found. Quasi-Airy stationary modes with a divergent norm, which may be dragged by a nonlinear trap moving at a constant acceleration, are briefly considered too.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2011

Domain walls and vortices in linearly coupled systems

We investigate one- and two-dimensional radial domain-wall (DW) states in the system of two nonlinear-Schroedinger (NLS) or Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equations, which are couple by linear mixing and by nonlinear XPM (cross-phase-modulation). The system has straightforward applications to two-component Bose-Einstein condensates, and to bimodal light propagation in nonlinear optics. In the former case the two components represent different hyperfine atomic states, while in the latter setting they correspond to orthogonal polarizations of light. Conditions guaranteeing the stability of flat continuous wave (CW) asymmetric bimodal states are established, followed by the study of families of the corresponding DW patterns. Approximate analytical solutions for the DWs are found near the point of the symmetry-breaking bifurcation of the CW states. An exact DW solution is produced for ratio 3:1 of the XPM and SPM (self-phase modulation) coefficients. The DWs between flat asymmetric states, which are mirror images of each other, are completely stable, and all other species of the DWs, with zero crossings in one or two components, are fully unstable. Interactions between two DWs are considered too, and an effective potential accounting for the attraction between them is derived analytically. Direct simulations demonstrate merger and annihilation of the interacting DWs. The analysis is extended for the system including single- and double-peak external potentials. Generic solutions for trapped DWs are obtained in a numerical form, and their stability is investigated. An exact stable solution is found for the DW trapped by a single-peak potential. In the 2D geometry, stable two-component vortices are found, with topological charges s=1,2,3. Radial oscillations of annular DW-shaped pulsons, with s=0,1,2, are studied too. A linear relation between the period of the oscillations and the mean radius of the DW ring is derived analytically.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2011

Suppression of quantum collapse in an anisotropic gas of dipolar bosons

In recent work [Sakaguchi and Malomed, Phys. Rev. A 83, 013607 (2011)], a solution to the problem of the quantum collapse (fall onto the center) in the three-dimensional space with the attractive potential -(U{sub 0}/2)r{sup -2} was proposed, based on the replacement of the linear Schroedinger equation by the Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equation with the repulsive cubic term. The model applies to a quantum gas of molecules carrying permanent electric dipole moments, with the attraction center representing a fixed electric charge. It was demonstrated that the repulsive nonlinearity suppresses the quantum collapse and creates the corresponding spherically symmetric ground state (GS), which was missing in the case of the linear Schroedinger equation. Here, we aim to extend the analysis to the cylindrical geometry and to eigenstates carrying angular momentum. The cylindrical anisotropy is imposed by a uniform dc field, which fixes the orientation of the dipole moments, thus altering the potential of the attraction to the center. First, we analyze the modification of the condition for the onset of the quantum collapse in the framework of the linear Schroedinger equation with the cylindrically symmetric potential for the states with azimuthal quantum numbers m=0 (the GS) and m=1, 2. The corresponding critical values of the strength of the attractive potential (U{sub 0}){sub cr}(m) are found. Next, a numerical solution of the nonlinear GP equation is developed, which demonstrates the replacement of the quantum collapse by the originally missing eigenstates with m=0,1,2. Their dynamical stability is verified by means of numerical simulations of the perturbed evolution. For m=0, the Thomas-Fermi approximation is presented too, in an analytical form. Crucially important for the solution is the proper choice of the boundary conditions at r{yields}0.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2011

Nonlinearly PT-symmetric systems: Spontaneous symmetry breaking and transmission resonances

We consider a class of PT-symmetric systems which include mutually matched nonlinear loss and gain (in other words, a class of PT-invariant Hamiltonians in which both the harmonic and anharmonic parts are non-Hermitian). For a basic system in the form of a dimer, symmetric and asymmetric eigenstates, including multistable ones, are found analytically. We demonstrate that, if coupled to a linear chain, such a nonlinear PT-symmetric dimer generates previously unexplored types of nonlinear Fano resonances, with completely suppressed or greatly amplified transmission, as well as a regime similar to the electromagnetically induced transparency. The implementation of the systems is possible in various media admitting controllable linear and nonlinear amplification of waves.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2011

Dragging two-dimensional discrete solitons by moving linear defects

We study the mobility of small-amplitude solitons attached to moving defects which drag the solitons across a two-dimensional (2D) discrete nonlinear Schroedinger lattice. Findings are compared to the situation when a free small-amplitude 2D discrete soliton is kicked in a uniform lattice. In agreement with previously known results, after a period of transient motion the free soliton transforms into a localized mode pinned by the Peierls-Nabarro potential, irrespective of the initial velocity. However, the soliton attached to the moving defect can be dragged over an indefinitely long distance (including routes with abrupt turns and circular trajectories) virtually without losses, provided that the dragging velocity is smaller than a certain critical value. Collisions between solitons dragged by two defects in opposite directions are studied too. If the velocity is small enough, the collision leads to a spontaneous symmetry breaking, featuring fusion of two solitons into a single one, which remains attached to either of the two defects.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2011

Spatiotemporal vortex solitons in hexagonal arrays of waveguides

By means of a systematic numerical analysis, we demonstrate that hexagonal lattices of parallel linearly coupled waveguides, with the intrinsic cubic self-focusing nonlinearity, give rise to three species of stable semidiscrete complexes (which are continuous in the longitudinal direction) with embedded vorticity S: triangular modes with S=1, hexagonal ones with S=2, both centered around an empty central core, and compact triangles with S=1, which do not not include the empty site. Collisions between stable triangular vortices are studied too. These waveguiding lattices can be realized in optics and Bose-Einstein condensate.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2011

Gap solitons in elongated geometries: The one-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii equation and beyond

We report results of a systematic analysis of matter-wave gap solitons (GSs) in three-dimensional self-repulsive Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) loaded into a combination of a cigar-shaped trap and axial optical-lattice (OL) potential. Basic cases of the strong, intermediate, and weak radial (transverse) confinement are considered, as well as settings with shallow and deep OL potentials. Only in the case of the shallow lattice combined with tight radial confinement, which actually has little relevance to realistic experimental conditions, does the usual one-dimensional (1D) cubic Gross-Pitaevskii equation (GPE) furnish a sufficiently accurate description of GSs. However, the effective 1D equation with the nonpolynomial nonlinearity, derived in Ref. [Phys. Rev. A 77, 013617 (2008)], provides for quite an accurate approximation for the GSs in all cases, including the situation with weak transverse confinement, when the soliton's shape includes a considerable contribution from higher-order transverse modes, in addition to the usual ground-state wave function of the respective harmonic oscillator. Both fundamental GSs and their multipeak bound states are considered. The stability is analyzed by means of systematic simulations. It is concluded that almost all the fundamental GSs are stable, while their bound states may be stable if the underlying OL potential is deep enough.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2011

Double symmetry breaking of solitons in one-dimensional virtual photonic crystals

We demonstrate that spatial solitons undergo two consecutive spontaneous symmetry breakings (SSBs), with the increase of the total power, in nonlinear photonic crystals (PhCs) built as arrays of alternating linear and nonlinear stripes, in the case when the maxima of the effective refractive index coincide with the minima of the self-focusing coefficient and vice versa (i.e., the corresponding linear and nonlinear periodic potentials are in competition). This setting may be induced, as a virtual PhC, by means of the electromagnetically induced-transparency (EIT) technique, in a uniform optical medium. It may also be realized as a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) subject to the action of the combined periodic optical potential and periodically modulated Feshbach resonance. The first SSB happens at the center of a linear stripe, pushing a broad low-power soliton into an adjacent nonlinear stripe and gradually suppressing side peaks in the soliton's shape. Then the soliton restores its symmetry, being pinned to the midpoint of the nonlinear stripe. The second SSB occurs at higher powers, pushing the narrow soliton off the center of the nonlinear channel, while the soliton keeps its internal symmetry. The results are obtained by means of numerical and analytical methods. They may be employed to control switching of light beams by means of the varying power.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2011

Gap solitons under competing local and nonlocal nonlinearities

We analyze the existence, bifurcations, and shape transformations of one-dimensional gap solitons (GSs) in the first finite band gap induced by a periodic potential built into materials with local self-focusing and nonlocal self-defocusing nonlinearities. Originally stable on-site GS modes become unstable near the upper edge of the band gap with the introduction of the nonlocal self-defocusing nonlinearity with a small nonlocality radius. Unstable off-site GSs bifurcate into a new branch featuring single-humped, double-humped, and flat-top modes due to the competition between local and nonlocal nonlinearities. The mechanism underlying the complex bifurcation pattern and cutoff effects (termination of some bifurcation branches) is illustrated in terms of the shape transformation under the action of the varying degree of the nonlocality. The results of this work suggest a possibility of optical-signal processing by means of the competing nonlocal and local nonlinearities.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2011

Spontaneous symmetry breaking in Schroedinger lattices with two nonlinear sites

We introduce discrete systems in the form of straight (infinite) and ring-shaped chains, with two symmetrically placed nonlinear sites. The systems can be implemented in nonlinear optics (as waveguiding arrays) and Bose-Einstein condensates (by means of an optical lattice). A full set of exact analytical solutions for symmetric, asymmetric, and antisymmetric localized modes is found, and their stability is investigated in a numerical form. The symmetry-breaking bifurcation, through which the asymmetric modes emerge from the symmetric ones, is found to be of the subcritical type. It is transformed into a supercritical bifurcation if the nonlinearity is localized in relatively broad domains around two central sites, and also in the ring of a small size, i.e., in effectively nonlocal settings. The family of antisymmetric modes does not undergo bifurcations and features both stable and unstable portions. The evolution of unstable localized modes is investigated by means of direct simulations. In particular, unstable asymmetric states, which exist in the case of the subcritical bifurcation, give rise to breathers oscillating between the nonlinear sites, thus restoring an effective dynamical symmetry between them.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2011

Self-trapping of scalar and vector dipole solitary waves in Kerr media

We report solutions for expanding dipole-type optical solitary waves in two-dimensional Kerr media with the self-focusing nonlinearity, using exact analytical (Hirota) and numerical methods. Such localized beams carry intrinsic vorticity and exhibit symmetric shapes for both scalar and vector solitary modes. When vector beams are close to the scalar limit, simulations demonstrate their stability over propagation distances exceeding 50 diffraction lengths. In fact, the continuous expansion helps the vortical beams avoid the instability against the splitting, collapse, or decay, making them 'convectively stable' patterns.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2011

Solitons supported by localized nonlinearities in periodic media

Nonlinear periodic systems, such as photonic crystals and Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC's) loaded into optical lattices, are often described by the nonlinear Schroedinger or Gross-Pitaevskii equation with a sinusoidal potential. Here, we consider a model based on such a periodic potential, with the nonlinearity (attractive or repulsive) concentrated either at a single point or at a symmetric set of two points, which are represented, respectively, by a single {delta} function or a combination of two {delta} functions. With the attractive or repulsive sign of the nonlinearity, this model gives rise to ordinary solitons or gap solitons (GS's), which reside, respectively, in the semi-infinite or finite gaps of the system's linear spectrum, being pinned to the {delta} functions. Physical realizations of these systems are possible in optics and BEC's, using diverse variants of the nonlinearity management. First, we demonstrate that the single {delta} function multiplying the nonlinear term supports families of stableregular solitons in the self-attractive case, while a family of solitons supported by the attractive {delta} function in the absence of the periodic potential is completely unstable. In addition, we show that the {delta} function can support stable GS's in the first finite band gap in both the self-attractive and repulsive models. The stability analysis for the GS's in the second finite band gap is reported too, for both signs of the nonlinearity. Alongside the numerical analysis, analytical approximations are developed for the solitons in the semi-infinite and first two finite gaps, with the single {delta} function positioned at a minimum or maximum of the periodic potential. In the model with the symmetric set of two {delta} functions, we study the effect of the spontaneous symmetry breaking of the pinned solitons. Two configurations are considered, with the {delta} functions set symmetrically with respect to the minimum or maximum of the underlying potential.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2011

Symmetry breaking of solitons in two-component Gross-Pitaevskii equations

We revisit the problem of the spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) of solitons in two-component linearly coupled nonlinear systems, adding the nonlinear interaction between the components. With this feature, the system may be realized in new physical settings, in terms of optics and the Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). SSB bifurcation points are found analytically, for both symmetric and antisymmetric solitons (the symmetry between the two components is meant here). Asymmetric solitons, generated by the bifurcations, are described by means of the variational approximation (VA) and numerical methods, demonstrating good accuracy of the variational results. In the space of the self-phase-modulation (SPM) parameter and soliton's norm, a border separating stable symmetric and asymmetric solitons is identified. The nonlinear coupling may change the character of the SSB bifurcation, from subcritical to supercritical. Collisions between moving asymmetric and symmetric solitons are investigated too. Antisymmetric solitons are destabilized by a supercritical bifurcation, which gives rise to self-confined modes featuring Josephson oscillations, instead of stationary states with broken antisymmetry. An additional instability against delocalized perturbations is also found for the antisymmetric solitons.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2011

Nonpolynomial Schroedinger equation for resonantly absorbing gratings

We derive a nonlinear Schroedinger equation with a radical term, {approx}{radical}(1-|V|{sup 2}), as an asymptotic model of the resonantly absorbing Bragg reflector (RABR), i.e., a periodic set of thin layers of two-level atoms, resonantly interacting with the electromagnetic field and inducing the Bragg reflection. A family of bright solitons is found, which splits into stable and unstable parts, exactly obeying the Vakhitov-Kolokolov criterion. The soliton with the largest amplitude, (|V|){sub max}=1, is a ''quasipeakon,'' i.e., a solution with a discontinuity of the third derivative at the center. Families of exact cnoidal waves, built as periodic chains of quasipeakons, are found too. The ultimate solution belonging to the family of dark solitons, with the background level V=1, is a dark compacton. Those bright solitons that are unstable destroy themselves (if perturbed) attaining the critical amplitude, |V|=1. The dynamics of the wave field around this critical point is studied analytically, revealing a switch of the system into an unstable phase, in terms of the RABR model. Collisions between bright solitons are investigated too. The collisions between fast solitons are quasielastic, while slowly moving ones merge into breathers, which may persist or perish (in the latter case, also by attaining |V|=1).

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2011

Suppression of the quantum-mechanical collapse by repulsive interactions in a quantum gas

The quantum-mechanical collapse (alias fall onto the center of particles attracted by potential -r{sup -2}) is a well-known issue in quantum theory. It is closely related to the quantum anomaly, i.e., breaking of the scaling invariance of the respective Hamiltonian by quantization. We demonstrate that the mean-field repulsive nonlinearity prevents the collapse and thus puts forward a solution to the quantum-anomaly problem that differs from that previously developed in the framework of the linear quantum-field theory. This solution may be realized in the 3D or 2D gas of dipolar bosons attracted by a central charge and in the 2D gas of magnetic dipoles attracted by a current filament. In the 3D setting, the dipole-dipole interactions are also taken into regard, in the mean-field approximation, resulting in a redefinition of the scattering length which accounts for the contact repulsion between the bosons. In lieu of the collapse, the cubic nonlinearity creates a 3D ground state (GS), which does not exist in the respective linear Schroedinger equation. The addition of the harmonic trap gives rise to a tristability, in the case when the Schroedinger equation still does not lead to the collapse. In the 2D setting, the cubic nonlinearity is not strong enough to prevent the collapse; however, the quintic term does it, creating the GS, as well as its counterparts carrying the angular momentum (vorticity). Counterintuitively, such self-trapped 2D modes exist even in the case of a weakly repulsive potential r{sup -2}. The 2D vortical modes avoid the phase singularity at the pivot (r=0) by having the amplitude diverging at r{yields}0 instead of the usual situation with the amplitude of the vortical mode vanishing at r{yields}0 (the norm of the mode converges despite of the singularity of the amplitude at r{yields}0). In the presence of the harmonic trap, the 2D quintic model with a weakly repulsive central potential r{sup -2} gives rise to three confined modes, the middle one being unstable, spontaneously developing into a breather. In both the 3D and 2D cases, the GS wave functions are found in a numerical form and in the form of an analytical approximation, which is asymptotically exact in the limit of the large norm.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2011

Localization and delocalization of two-dimensional discrete solitons pinned to linear and nonlinear defects

We study the dynamics of two-dimensional (2D) localized modes in the nonlinear lattice described by the discrete nonlinear Schroedinger equation, including a local linear or nonlinear defect. Discrete solitons pinned to the defects are investigated by means of the numerical continuation from the anticontinuum limit and also using the variational approximation, which features a good agreement for strongly localized modes. The models with the time-modulated strengths of the linear or nonlinear defect are considered too. In that case, one can temporarily shift the critical norm, below which localized 2D modes cannot exist, to a level above the norm of the given soliton, which triggers the irreversible delocalization transition.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2010

Arrayed and checkerboard optical waveguides controlled by the electromagnetically induced transparency

We introduce two models of quasidiscrete optical systems: an array of waveguides doped by four-level N-type atoms, and a nonlinear checkerboard pattern, formed by doping with three-level atoms of the {Lambda}-type. The dopant atoms are driven by external fields, to induce the effect of the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). These active systems offer advantages and additional degrees of freedom, in comparison with ordinary passive waveguiding systems. In the array of active waveguides, the driving field may adjust linear and nonlinear propagation regimes for a probe signal. The nonlinear checkerboard system supports the transmission of stable spatial solitons and their 'fuzzy' counterparts, straight or oblique.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2010

Three-dimensional gap solitons in Bose-Einstein condensates supported by one-dimensional optical lattices

We study fundamental and compound gap solitons (GSs) of matter waves in one-dimensional (1D) optical lattices (OLs) in a three-dimensional (3D) weak-radial-confinement regime, which corresponds to realistic experimental conditions in Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). In this regime GSs exhibit nontrivial radial structures. Associated with each 3D linear spectral band exists a family of fundamental gap solitons that share a similar transverse structure with the Bloch waves of the corresponding linear band. GSs with embedded vorticity m may exist inside bands corresponding to other values of m. Stable GSs, both fundamental and compound ones (including vortex solitons), are those which originate from the bands with lowest axial and radial quantum numbers. These findings suggest a scenario for the experimental generation of robust GSs in 3D settings.

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