Akhmediev Breather dynamics and the nonlinear modulation instability spectrum

G. Genty (1) , F. Dias (2) , B. Kibler (3) , N. Akhmediev (4) , J.M. Dudley (5)

1 TUT - Tampere University of Technology [Tampere]
2 ENS Cachan - École normale supérieure - Cachan
3 ICB - Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire Carnot de Bourgogne
4 Optical Sciences Group
5 FEMTO-ST - Franche-Comté Électronique Mécanique, Thermique et Optique - Sciences et Technologies (UMR 6174)

We consider various aspects of supercontinuum generation in the quasi-CW regime through analysis, numerical simulations and experiments. A new interpretation of certain features of the developing spectrum in terms of localized periodic structures known as "Akhmediev Breathers" is proposed. We also briefly consider the role of breather collisions and turbulence in the presence of higher order dispersion and show that they lead to the formation of very large amplitude localized structures that may be analogous to the infamous oceanic rogue waves.

Mots clés: Solitons; nonlinear optics; supercontinuum generation; photonic crystal fiber; rogue waves

Domaines: Optique / photonique

G. Genty, F. Dias, B. Kibler, N. Akhmediev, J.M. Dudley. Akhmediev Breather dynamics and the nonlinear modulation instability spectrum. SPIE Photonics Europe : Conference on Nonlinear Optics and Applications, Apr 2010, Bruxelles, Belgium. ⟨10.1117/12.854045⟩. ⟨hal-00606973⟩