Beam evolution in quadratically nonlinear one-dimensional media: LiNbO3 slab waveguides

    Authors

    G. I. Stegeman; R. Schiek; H. Fang; R. Malendevich; L. Jankovic; L. Torner; W. Sohler;G. Schreiber

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Laser Phys.

    Keywords

    SPATIAL SOLITARY WAVES; MODULATIONAL INSTABILITY; 2ND-ORDER; NONLINEARITIES; GUIDES; GENERATION; SOLITONS; Optics; Physics, Applied

    Abstract

    The beam dynamics associated with second harmonic generation (SHG) is revisited in the light. of quadratic soliton formation and related effects such as modulational instability. Here we examine the spatial evolution of the fundamental and harmonic for plane waves (i.e., very wide beams) and for beam widths and/or input intensities characteristic of soliton formation. Because of its attractive symmetry properties, a noncritically phase-matched geometry was used for experiments in LiNbO3 slab waveguides utilizing both birefringence phase matching and quasiphase matching. The physical mechanisms which lead to changes in the spatial profiles of the optical beams interacting through the second order susceptibility are discussed. For wide beams, breakup was observed due to noise on the input beam in good agreement with theory. For narrow beams, one-, two-, and three-soliton generation was observed at the output. Finally, for beams of intermediate width and at very high input intensities, results were obtained which were interpreted as the transition regime between modulational instability and multisoliton generation.

    Journal Title

    Laser Physics

    Volume

    13

    Issue/Number

    2

    Publication Date

    1-1-2003

    Document Type

    Article; Proceedings Paper

    Language

    English

    First Page

    137

    Last Page

    147

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000181112900002

    ISSN

    1054-660X

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