Nonlinear spectrum reshaping and gap-soliton-train trapping in optically induced photonic structures

Discrete image recovery via stochastic resonance in optically induced photonic lattices

We demonstrate numerically the discrete image recovery via stochastic resonance in optically induced photonic lattices. The underlying signals are regularly reinforced at the expense of scattering noise with the interplay of the periodic potentials and the self-focusing nonlinearity. We founded that the energy redistribution tends to be periodic and the signal reinforcement is promoted with the help of periodic potentials. The lattice intensity levels, applied voltages, and correlation lengths are important parameters to influence the recovery effects. The dynamic nonlinear evolution including intensity and power spectrum is modeled according to the two-dimensional quasi-particle motion model. Our results suggest a potential technology to detect the noisy images.

Continuous Solitons in a Lattice Nonlinearity

We study theoretically and experimentally the propagation of optical solitons in a lattice nonlinearity, a periodic pattern that both affects and is strongly affected by the wave. Observations are carried out using spatial photorefractive solitons in a volume microstructured crystal with a built-in oscillating low-frequency dielectric constant. The pattern causes an oscillating electro-optic response that induces a periodic optical nonlinearity. On-axis results in potassium-lithium-tantalate-niobate indicate the appearance of effective continuous saturated-Kerr solitons, where all spatial traces of the lattice vanish, independently of the ratio between beam width and lattice constant. Decoupling the lattice nonlinearity allows the detection of discrete delocalized and localized light distributions, demonstrating that the continuous solitons form out of the combined compensation of diffraction and of the underlying periodic volume pattern.

Observation of self-trapping and rotation of higher-band gap solitons in two-dimensional photonic lattices

We demonstrate self-trapping and rotation of higher-band dipole and quadruple-like gap solitons by single-site excitation in a two-dimensional square photonic lattice under self-focusing nonlinearity. Experimental results show that the second-band dipole gap solitons reside in the first photonic (Bragg reflection) gap, whereas the quadruple-like gap solitons are formed in an even higher photonic gap, resulting from modes of the third-band. Moreover, both dipole and quadruple-like gap solitons exhibit dynamical rotation around the lattice principle axes and the direction of rotation is changing periodically during propagation, provided that they are excited under appropriate initial conditions. In the latter case, the nonlinear rotation is accompanied by periodic transitions between quadruple and doubly-charged vortex states. Our numerical simulations find good agreement with the experimental observations.

Temporal gap solitons and all-optical control of group delay in line-defect waveguides

We show that a model based on anticrossing between highly group velocity-mismatched gap-guided and index-guided modes describes gap soliton propagation in photonic crystal waveguides. Such nonlinear solutions can be exploited for exploring new regimes such as all-optical control of group velocity (dispersionless slow light) over a submillimeter length scale, and propagation beyond the linear modal cutoff. The results are validated by means of finite-difference time domain simulations.

Optical spatial solitons: historical overview and recent advances

Solitons, nonlinear self-trapped wavepackets, have been extensively studied in many and diverse branches of physics such as optics, plasmas, condensed matter physics, fluid mechanics, particle physics and even astrophysics. Interestingly, over the past two decades, the field of solitons and related nonlinear phenomena has been substantially advanced and enriched by research and discoveries in nonlinear optics. While optical solitons have been vigorously investigated in both spatial and temporal domains, it is now fair to say that much soliton research has been mainly driven by the work on optical spatial solitons. This is partly due to the fact that although temporal solitons as realized in fiber optic systems are fundamentally one-dimensional entities, the high dimensionality associated with their spatial counterparts has opened up altogether new scientific possibilities in soliton research. Another reason is related to the response time of the nonlinearity. Unlike temporal optical solitons, spatial solitons have been realized by employing a variety of noninstantaneous nonlinearities, ranging from the nonlinearities in photorefractive materials and liquid crystals to the nonlinearities mediated by the thermal effect, thermophoresis and the gradient force in colloidal suspensions. Such a diversity of nonlinear effects has given rise to numerous soliton phenomena that could otherwise not be envisioned, because for decades scientists were of the mindset that solitons must strictly be the exact solutions of the cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equation as established for ideal Kerr nonlinear media. As such, the discoveries of optical spatial solitons in different systems and associated new phenomena have stimulated broad interest in soliton research. In particular, the study of incoherent solitons and discrete spatial solitons in optical periodic media not only led to advances in our understanding of fundamental processes in nonlinear optics and photonics, but also had a very important impact on a variety of other disciplines in nonlinear science. In this paper, we provide a brief overview of optical spatial solitons. This review will cover a variety of issues pertaining to self-trapped waves supported by different types of nonlinearities, as well as various families of spatial solitons such as optical lattice solitons and surface solitons. Recent developments in the area of optical spatial solitons, such as 3D light bullets, subwavelength solitons, self-trapping in soft condensed matter and spatial solitons in systems with parity-time symmetry will also be discussed briefly.

Tunable self-shifting Bloch modes in anisotropic hexagonal photonic lattices

We study controllable self-shifting Bloch modes in anisotropic hexagonal photonic lattices. The shifting results from a deformed band structure due to deformation of the index distribution in each unit cell. By reconfiguration of the index profile of the unit cell, the direction in which the Bloch modes move can be controlled. Our theoretical predictions are experimentally demonstrated in hexagonal lattices optically induced in an anisotropic nonlinear crystal.

Anomalous interactions of spatial gap solitons in optically induced photonic lattices

We demonstrate coherent interactions between spatial gap solitons in optically induced photonic lattices. Because of the "staggered" phase structures, two in-phase (out-of-phase) bright gap solitons can repel (attract) each other at close proximity, in contrast to soliton interaction in homogeneous media. A reversal of energy transfer direction and a transition between attractive and repulsive interaction forces can be obtained solely by changing the initial soliton separation relative to the lattice spacing.

Image transmission using stable solitons of arbitrary shapes in photonic lattices

We demonstrate both theoretically and experimentally that photonic lattices under self-defocusing nonlinearity support gap solitons in various shapes such as cross and H shapes. These solitons, with their intensity humps all in-phase, are stable against perturbations, thus they propagate robustly throughout the lattices. Based on this finding, we propose soliton-based text/image transmission through bulk photonic structures.

Persistence and breakdown of Airy beams driven by an initial nonlinearity

We study the behavior of Airy beams propagating from a nonlinear medium to a linear medium. We show that an Airy beam initially driven by a self-defocusing nonlinearity experiences anomalous diffraction and can maintain its shape in subsequent propagation, but its intensity pattern and acceleration cannot persist when driven by a self-focusing nonlinearity. The unusual behavior of Airy beams is examined from their energy flow as well as the Brillouin zone spectrum of self-induced chirped photonic lattices.

Defect solitons in kagome optical lattices

We report the existence and stability of solitons in kagome optical lattices with a defect in photorefractive crystal under focusing saturable nonlinearity. For different types of defects, solitons will exist in different gaps. For a positive defect, the solitons only exist in the semi-infinite gap and only stably exist in the low power region. For a negative defect, the solitons exist both in the semi-infinite gap and the first gap. With an increasing of the negative defect depth, the stable region in the semi-infinite will be narrowed, while solitons will be firstly unstable in the high power region of the first gap, and finally solitons will be not stable in the whole first gap.

Linear discrete diffraction and transverse localization of light in two-dimensional backbone lattices

We study the linear discrete diffraction characteristics of light in two-dimensional backbone lattices. It is found that, as the refractive index modulation depth of the backbone lattice increases, high-order band gaps become open and broad in sequence, and the allowed band curves of the Floquet-Bloch modes become flat gradually. As a result, the diffraction pattern at the exit face converges gradually for both the on-site and off-site excitation cases. Particularly, when the refractive index modulation depth of the backbone lattice is high enough, for example, on the order of 0.01 for a square lattice, the light wave propagating in the backbone lattice will be localized in transverse dimension for both the on-site and off-site excitation cases. This is because only the first several allowed bands with nearly flat band curves are excited in the lattice, and the transverse expansion velocities of the Floquet-Bloch modes in these flat allowed bands approach to zero. Such a linear transverse localization of light may have potential applications in navigating light propagation dynamics and optical signal processing.

Defect solitons in two-dimensional optical lattices

We report on the existence and stability of solitons in a defect embedded in a square optical lattice based on a photorefractive crystal with focusing saturable nonlinearity. These solitons exist in different bandgaps due to the change of defect intensity. For a positive defect, the solitons only exist in the semi-infinite gap and can be stable in the low power region but not the high power region. For a negative defect, the solitons can exist not only in the semi-infinite gap, but also in the first gap. With increasing the defect depth, these solitons are stable within a moderate power region in the first gap while unstable in the entire semi-infinite gap.

Saddle solitons: a balance between bi-diffraction and hybrid nonlinearity

We demonstrate self-trapping of light by simultaneously compensating normal and anomalous (saddle-shaped) diffractions with self-focusing and self-defocusing hybrid nonlinearity in optically induced ionic-type photonic lattices. Innovative two-dimensional gap solitons, named "saddle solitons," are established, whose phase and spectrum characteristics are different from all previously observed spatial solitons.

Orientation-dependent excitations of lattice soliton trains with hybrid nonlinearity

We demonstrate selective excitation of soliton trains residing in different gaps or within the same Bloch band of a new type of photonic lattice merely by changing the orientation of an input probe beam. A self-focusing and -defocusing hybrid nonlinearity as established in a nonconventionally biased photorefractive crystal leads to controlled soliton transitions from different band edges or subband edges, in good agreement with our theoretical analysis.

Experimental control of pattern formation by photonic lattices

We study the control of modulational instability and pattern formation in a nonlinear dissipative feedback system with a periodic modulation of the material refractive index. We use a one-dimensional photonic lattice in a single-mirror feedback configuration and identify three mechanisms for pattern control: bandgap suppression of instability modes, periodicity induced pattern modes, and orientational pattern control.

Demonstration of surface soliton arrays at the edge of a two-dimensional photonic lattice

We demonstrate surface soliton arrays at the interface between a homogeneous medium and an optically induced two-dimensional semi-infinite photonic lattice. These are nonlinear Tamm-like surface states localized in one but extended periodically in the other transverse dimension. Both in-phase and staggered out-of-phase soliton arrays are observed, and the experimental results are corroborated by numerical simulations.

Observation of in-band lattice solitons

We report the first experimental and theoretical demonstrations of in-band (or embedded) lattice solitons. Such solitons appear in trains, and their propagation constants reside inside the first Bloch band of a square lattice, different from all previously observed solitons. We show that these solitons bifurcate from Bloch modes at the interior high-symmetry X points within the first band, where normal and anomalous diffractions coexist along two orthogonal directions. At high powers, the in-band soliton can move into the first band gap and turn into a gap soliton.