Theory of optical dispersive shock waves in photorefractive media

2007/06/08 by G. A. Él, G. A. El, A. Gammal +3 · 3 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Fiber Laser Technologies #Laser-Matter Interactions and Applications #Nonlinear Photonic Systems #nlin.PS

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physreva.76.053813

published as Phys. Rev. A 76, 053813 (2007) · 26 pages

arxiv created 2007/06/08 · openalex publication_date 2007/11/09 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

The theory of optical dispersive shocks generated in the propagation of light beams through photorefractive media is developed. A full one-dimensional analytical theory based on the Whitham modulation approach is given for the simplest case of a sharp steplike initial discontinuity in a beam with one-dimensional striplike geometry. This approach is confirmed by numerical simulations, which are extended also to beams with cylindrical symmetry. The theory explains recent experiments where such dispersive shock waves have been observed.

Cited by

• Nonlinear diffraction of light beams propagating in photorefractive media with embedded reflecting wire
• Dispersive shock waves and modulation theory
• Localization and shock waves in curved manifolds