Multisoliton spectrum breaking due to small harmonic perturbations

Abstract

We demonstrate analytically and numerically that velocities and amplitudes of the single-soliton components of a high-intensity light pulse with a linear frequency chirp and a parabolic profile are highly sensitive to small harmonic phase perturbations from certain frequency band. This exponential sensitivity with respect to the pulse amplitude and chirp rate product should be taken into account for the characterization and applications of such pulses.