Title

Interactions Of Quadratic Spatial Solitons In Noncritically Phase-Matched Knbo3

Abstract

The properties of quadratic spatial solitons in geometries for which second harmonic generation is noncritically phase-matched in KNbO3 were investigated experimentally and theoretically. The inherent symmetry of these geometries can be broken by crystal diffraction anisotropy, input beam asymmetry, or the presence of a low intensity noise on the input beam. This symmetry breaking, coupled with using a fundamental frequency beam only as the input to excite the quadratic solitons, leads to spatially anisotropic multisoliton generation. A very chaotic output pattern distribution, resulting from the noise mediated symmetry breaking in the first stage of propagation and the energy exchange processes between the generated multibeams further into the sample, is demonstrated in a KNbO3 sample at high enough input intensities for multiple solitons to form. In addition, noncritical phase matching affords a unique opportunity to investigate soliton interactions for truly identical solitons. In the interaction processes between quadratic solitons, their fundamental and second harmonics affect each other via up-conversion and down-conversion processes involving photons from each beam when the solitons overlap. To study these interactions, a two-beam experiment was performed. The details of these processes as a function of the relative phase between the two solitons were investigated. For coplanar interactions, energy is exchanged between the two solitons due to the interactions except at 0 and π relative phase. However, to within the experimental accuracy, there was no change in the ratio of the fundamental and harmonic components. For non-coplanar interactions, a third soliton can be formed in the collision under certain conditions. The numerical calculations performed showed good qualitative agreement with the observed collision features.

Publication Date

2-1-2004

Publication Title

Laser Physics

Volume

14

Issue

2

Number of Pages

264-272

Document Type

Article; Proceedings Paper

Personal Identifier

scopus

Socpus ID

1842584422 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/1842584422

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