Conditions For Modulational Instability Research Articles

Cross-phase modulation induced modulation instability in single-mode optical fibers with saturable nonlinearity

Taking into account the saturable nonlinearity of the single-mode optical fibers, condition and gain spectra of scalar modulation instability induced by cross-phase modulation of two optical waves of different frequencies with the same polarizations are investigated. In both of the normal and anomalous dispersion regions, the contour plots of gain spectra of modulation instability with gray levels, the critical perturbation frequency (or instability domain), and the peak perturbation gain versus the input powers of the two waves are analyzed and discussed. The results show that, the critical perturbation frequency (or instability domain) and the peak perturbation gain increase with the input power, reaching a maximum value, and then decrease. This leads to a unique value of peak perturbation gain and critical perturbation frequency for two different input powers.

How does an inclined holding beam affect discrete modulational instability and solitons in nonlinear cavities?

We study light propagation in arrays of weakly coupled nonlinear cavities driven by an inclined holding beam.We show analytically that both discreteness and inclination of the driving field can dramatically change the conditions for modulational instability in discrete nonlinear systems. We find numerically the families of resting and moving dissipative solitons for an arbitrary inclination angle of the driving field, both in the discrete and a quasi-continuous limits. We analyze a crossover between resting and moving cavity solitons, and also observe novel features in the soliton collision.

Nonlinear perpendicular propagation of ordinary mode electromagnetic wave packets in pair plasmas and electron-positron-ion plasmas

The nonlinear amplitude modulation of electromagnetic waves propagating in pair plasmas, e.g., electron-positron or fullerene pair-ion plasmas, as well as three-component pair plasmas, e.g., electron-positron-ion plasmas or doped (dusty) fullerene pair-ion plasmas, assuming wave propagation in a direction perpendicular to the ambient magnetic field, obeying the ordinary (O-) mode dispersion characteristics. Adopting a multiple scales (reductive perturbation) technique, a nonlinear Schrödinger-type equation is shown to govern the modulated amplitude of the magnetic field (perturbation). The conditions for modulation instability are investigated, in terms of relevant parameters. It is shown that localized envelope modes (envelope solitons) occur, of the bright- (dark-) type envelope solitons, i.e., envelope pulses (holes, respectively), for frequencies below (above) an explicit threshold. Long wavelength waves with frequency near the effective pair plasma frequency are therefore unstable, and may evolve into bright solitons, while higher frequency (shorter wavelength) waves are stable, and may propagate as envelope holes.

Ginzburg-Landau system of complex modulation equations for distributed nonlinear dissipative transmission lines

The envelope modulation of a monoinductance transmission line is reduced to generalized coupled Ginzburg-Landau equations, from which a single cubic-quintic Ginzburg-Landau equation containing derivatives with respect to the space variable in the cubic terms is deduced. We investigate the modulational instability of the space wave solutions of both the system and the single equation. For the generalized coupled Ginzburg-Landau system, we consider only the zero wave numbers of the perturbations whose modulational instability conditions depend only on the coefficients of the system and the wave numbers of the carriers. In this case, a modulational instability criterion is established, which depends on both the perturbation wave numbers and the carrier. We also study the coherent structures of the generalized coupled Ginzburg-Landau system and present some numerical results.

Discrete nonlinear Schrödinger approximation of a mixed Klein–Gordon/Fermi–Pasta–Ulam chain: Modulational instability and a statistical condition for creation of thermodynamic breathers

We analyze certain aspects of the classical dynamics of a one-dimensional discrete nonlinear Schrödinger model with inter-site as well as on-site nonlinearities. The equation is derived from a mixed Klein–Gordon/Fermi–Pasta–Ulam chain of anharmonic oscillators coupled with anharmonic inter-site potentials, and approximates the slow dynamics of the fundamental harmonic of discrete small-amplitude modulational waves. We give explicit analytical conditions for modulational instability of travelling plane waves, and find in particular that sufficiently strong inter-site nonlinearities may change the nature of the instabilities from long-wavelength to short-wavelength perturbations. Further, we describe thermodynamic properties of the model using the grand-canonical ensemble to account for two conserved quantities: norm and Hamiltonian. The available phase space is divided into two separated parts with qualitatively different properties in thermal equilibrium: one part corresponding to a normal thermalized state with exponentially small probabilities for large-amplitude excitations, and another part typically associated with the formation of high-amplitude localized excitations, interacting with an infinite-temperature phonon bath. A modulationally unstable travelling wave may exhibit a transition from one region to the other as its amplitude is varied, and thus modulational instability is not a sufficient criterion for the creation of persistent localized modes in thermal equilibrium. For pure on-site nonlinearities the created localized excitations are typically pinned to particular lattice sites, while for significant inter-site nonlinearities they become mobile, in agreement with well-known properties of localized excitations in Fermi–Pasta–Ulam-type chains.

Modulational instability and generation of pulse trains in asymmetric dual-core nonlinear optical fibers

Instability of continuous-wave (CW) states is investigated in a system of two parallel-coupled fibers, with a pumped (active) nonlinear dispersive core and a lossy (passive) linear one. Modulational instability (MI) conditions are found from linearized equations for small perturbations, the results being drastically different for the normal and anomalous group-velocity dispersion (GVD) in the active core. Simulations of the full system demonstrate that the development of the MI in the former regime leads to establishment of a regular or chaotic array of pulses, if the MI saturates, or a chain of well-separated peaks with continuously growing amplitudes if the instability does not saturate. In the anomalous-GVD regime, a chain of return-to-zero (RZ) peaks, or a single RZ peak emerge, also with growing amplitudes. The latter can be used as a source of RZ pulses for optical telecommunications.

Modulation instability of wave packets in the presence of linear and nonlinear mode coupling

Conditions for modulation instability of a wave packet consisting of two codirected linearly coupled waves propagating in a light guide with Kerr-type nonlinearity are formulated. The development of the instability with regard to light guide parameters, linear and nonlinear mode coupling, and input power is analyzed for symmetric and antisymmetric light guide excitations. Unlike in single-mode light guides, here modulation instability may arise in the frequency ranges of normal material dispersion and at the zero perturbation frequency.

Role of the anomalous self-steepening effect in modulation instability in negative-index material

In negative-index materials (NIMs), the self-steepening (SS) effect is proven to be anomalous in two aspects: First, it can be either positive or negative, with the zero SS point determined by the size of split-ring resonator circuit elements. Second, the negative SS parameter can have a very large value compared to an ordinary positive-index material. We present a theoretical investigation on modulation instability (MI) to identify the role of the anomalous SS effect in NIM. We find that the first anomaly of SS doesn't influence MI, yet the controllable zero SS point can be used to manipulate MI, and thus manipulate the generation of solitons. The second anomaly, however, leads to significant changes in the MI condition and property, compared with the case of an ordinary positive-index material. Numerical simulations confirm the theoretical results and show that negative SS moves the center of generated pulse toward the leading side, and shifts a part of energy of the generated pulse toward the red side, opposite to the case of positive SS.

Modulational instability of two-component Bose-Einstein condensates in an optical lattice

We study modulational instability of two-component Bose-Einstein condensates in an optical lattice, which is modelled as a coupled discrete nonlinear Schr \"{o}dinger equation. The excitation spectrum and the modulational instability condition of the total system are presented analytically. In the long-wavelength limit, our results agree with the homogeneous two-component Bose-Einstein condensates case. The discreteness effects result in the appearance of the modulational instability for the condensates in miscible region. The numerical calculations confirm our analytical results and show that the interspecies coupling can transfer the instability from one component to another.

Generation of Bragg solitons through modulation instability in a Bragg grating structure

In this article, we consider the continuous wave (cw) propagation through the nonlinear periodic structure that consists of alternating layers of both positive and negative Kerr coefficients along the propagation direction. We investigate the modulational instability (MI) conditions required for the generation of ultrashort pulses for the nonlinearity management system. We study the occurrence of MI at the top and bottom edges of the photonic band gap (PBG) where the forward and backward propagating waves are strongly coupled because of the presence of the grating structure. We also study the MI when cw is detuned from the edges of the PBG into the anomalous and normal dispersion regimes. In addition, we discuss the existence of gap solitons for the nonlinearity management system in the upper and lower branches of the dispersion curve through the MI gain spectra. We observe the generation of higher order solitons in the nonlinear periodic structure when the input power is increased beyond a certain critical level. Finally, we discuss the generation of higher order Bragg grating solitons through the intensity evolution of the forward and backward propagating fields.

Modulational instability and spatiotemporal transition to chaos

Abstract The one-dimensional generalized modified complex Ginzburg–Landau equation [Malomed BA, Stenflo L. J Phys A: Math Gen 1991;24:L1149] is considered. The linear stability analysis is used in order to derive the conditions for modulational instability. We obtained the generalized Lange and Newell’s criterion for modulational instability. Numerical simulation shows the validity of the analytical approach. The model presents a rich variety of patterns propagating in the system and a spatiotemporal transition to chaos.

Modulated dust-acoustic wave packets in a plasma with non-isothermal electrons and ions

Nonlinear self-modulation of the dust acoustic waves is studied, in the presence of non-thermal (non-Maxwellian) ion and electron populations. By employing a multiple scale technique, a nonlinear Schrodinger-type equation (NLSE) is derived for the wave amplitude. The influence of non-thermality, in addition to obliqueness (between the propagation and modulation directions), on the conditions for modulational instability to occur is discussed. Different types of localized solutions (envelope excitations) which may possibly occur are discussed, and the dependence of their characteristics on physical parameters is traced. The ion deviation from a Maxwellian distribution comes out to be more important than the electron analogous deviation alone. Both yield a de-stabilizing effect on (the amplitude of) DAWs propagating in a dusty plasma with negative dust grains. The opposite effect, namely a tendency towards amplitude stabilization, is found for the case of positively charged dust presence in the plasma.

Dynamics of Pattern Formation and Modulational Instabilities in the Quintic Complex Ginzburg–Landau Equation*

We study analytically modulational instability in an extended media, taking the one-dimensional quintic complex Ginzburg–Landau equation model as an example. We show that the quintic term can affect the conditions for modulational instability (MI), and the propagating regime. Numerical simulations demonstrate the validity of analytical predictions. The model presents a rich variety of patterns propagating into the system. The main feature of the travelling shock waves is the propagation of a secondary modulated wave at the same time with a stable plane wave.

Chaotic-like behavior of modulated waves in a nonlinear discrete LC transmission line

Modulational instability (MI) in a discrete nonlinear LC transmission line is investigated. The higher order nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation modeling modulated waves propagation in the network allows to predict the MI conditions, with additional features, compared to the standard NLS model. More precisely, a chaotic-like behavior of the system, which is observed in a particular frequency domain, is related to the nonrepeatability of the numerical experiments.

Spatial quantum noise in singly resonant second-harmonic generation

We study the spatial distribution of quantum noise in singly resonant second-harmonic generation. Calculations are performed below threshold for spatial modulational instability. For parameters for which the intracavity fields are modulationally stable the spatial spectrum shows maximum squeezing at k=0, whereas under conditions of modulational instability we find maximum squeezing at finite wave number |k|=k(c), where k(c) corresponds to the classical critical wave number.

Wave group dynamics in weakly nonlinear long-wave models

The dynamics of wave groups is studied for long waves, using the framework of the extended Korteweg–de Vries equation. It is shown that the dynamics is much richer than the corresponding results obtained just from the Korteweg–de Vries equation. First, a reduction to a nonlinear Schrödinger equation is obtained for weakly nonlinear wave packets, and it is demonstrated that either the focussing or the defocussing case can be obtained. This is in contrast to the corresponding reduction for the Korteweg–de Vries equation, where only the defocussing case is obtained. Next, the condition for modulational instability is obtained. It is shown that wave packets are unstable only for a positive sign of the coefficient of the cubic nonlinear term in the extended Korteweg–de Vries equation, and for a high carrier frequency. At the boundary of this parameter space, a modified nonlinear Schrödinger equation is derived, and its steady-state solutions, including an algebraic soliton, are found. The exact breather solution of the extended Korteweg–de Vries equation is analysed. It is shown that in the limit of weak nonlinearity it transforms to a wave group with an envelope described by soliton solutions of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation and its modification as described above. Numerical simulations demonstrate the main features of wave group evolution and show some differences in the behaviour of the solutions of the extended Korteweg–de Vries equation, compared with those of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation.

Nonlinear modulation of wave packets in a shallow shell on an elastic foundation

Among a lot of fascinating nonlinear effects, there is a great deal of interest in self modulation of a plane wave, or modulational instability (MI), which occurs in nonlinear dispersive media. Qualitatively a MI is the tendency for amplitude of a modulated carrier wave to break into isolated structures or solitons. Energy originally resident in the carrier of wave packets or long pulse is gradually transferred by nonlinear interaction, in the medium, into the spectrum side bands. As the side-band energy grows in amplitude, the modulated wave breaks up into a series of localized objects or envelope solitons. Composite structures formed by a singly or doubly-curved shallow shell resting on a nonlinear elastic foundation are wave guides that enable one to focus a high energy density in order that nonlinearities be excited. This class of elastic structures is an interesting candidate for the real observation of two-dimensional localized modes in elastodynamics. The purpose of the present work is to study the influences of the geometric dispersion, the prestress on the shallow shell and the material nonlinearity of the elastic foundation on the vibrations modes of the structure. The basic equations which govern the dynamics of the elastic structure are deduced from a variational principle. The analysis is restricted to signals which consist of a slowly varying envelope in space and time modulating a harmonic carrier wave. In the limit of low amplitude the coupled equations are solved by means of a reductive perturbation method. It is shown that the complex amplitude of the envelope is governed by a two-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger equation. This equation allows us to study the modulational instability conditions leading to different zones of instability. The mechanism of the self generated nonlinear waves in the elastic structure beyond the birth of modulational instability is numerically investigated on the original equations.

Two-dimensional modulation and instabilities of flexural waves of a thin plate on nonlinear elastic foundation

In the present paper we intend to examine in detail the formation of localized modes and waves mediated by modulational instability in an elastic structure. The elastic composite structure consists of a nonlinear foundation coated with an elastic thin plate. The problem deals with flexural waves traveling on the plate. The attention is devoted to the behavior of nonlinear waves in the small-amplitude limit in view of deducing criteria of instability which produce localized waves. It is shown that, in the small-amplitude limit, the basic equation which governs the plate deflection is approximated by a two-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The latter equation allows us to study the modulational instability conditions leading to different zones of instability. The examination of the instability provides useful information about the possible selection mechanism of the modulus of the carrier wave vector and growth rate of the instabilities taking place in both (longitudinal and transverse) directions of the plate. The mechanism of the self-generated nonlinear waves on the plate beyond the birth of modulational instability is numerically investigated. The numerics show that an initial plane wave is then transformed, through the instability process, into nonlinear localized waves which turn out to be particularly stable. In addition, the influence of the prestress on the nature of localized structures is also examined. At length, in the conclusion some other wave problems and extensions of the work are evoked.

Energy self-localization and gap local pulses in a two-dimensional nonlinear lattice.

We study the formation of localized states, mediated by modulational instability, on a two-dimensional lattice with nonlinear coupling between nearest particles and a periodic nonlinear substrate potential. Such a discrete system can model molecules adsorbed on a substrate crystal surface, for example. The basic equations of the motion governing the dynamics of the lattice are derived from the model Hamiltonian. In the low-amplitude approximation and semidiscrete limit these equations can be approximated by a two-dimensional nonlinear Schr\odinger equation. The modulational instability conditions are calculated; they inform us about the selection mechanism of the wave vectors and growth rate of the instabilities taking place both in the longitudinal and transverse directions. The dynamics of the lattice is then investigated by means of numerical simulations; due to modulational instability an initial steady state that consists of a plane wave with low amplitude modulated by very weak noise, evolves into an oscillating localized state, inhomogeneously distributed on the lattice. These nonlinear localized modes, which move slowly, present the remarkable properties of gap modes. Their amplitude is large and they pulsate at a low frequency that lies inside the lower linear gap of the lattice.

Nonlinear self-interaction of plasma electromagnetic pulses propagating obliquely to a very strong ambient magnetic field

We study nonlinear self-interactions including modulational instability in the case of a plane electromagnetic pulse propagating through a magnetized cold plasma at an arbitrary oblique angle to the external magnetic field. For intended applications to pulsar magnetospheres, the magnetic field is so large that both the electron- and ion-cyclotron frequencies are enormous compared with the plasma frequency or the frequency ω of the wave itself. The plasma is assumed to contain two singly charged species, either electrons and positrons or electrons and ions. (No approximation is made with respect to the mass ratio.) We restrict ourselves to the case eE0/mω ≪ 1 (i.e. the wave amplitude E0 excites the electrons to weakly, but not fully, relativistic velocities). We consider a pulse whose linear polarization is in the plane of the wave vector and the magnetic field. (The orthogonal polarization is purely electromagnetic, and induces no motion along magnetic field lines.) The pulse is assumed to be modulated along the direction of the group velocity vector. We show, using a self-consistent multiple-scales solution, that the envelope obeys the nonlinear Schrödinger equation, and from the coefficients of this equation we derive the conditions for modulational instability. Computation of the nonlinear coefficients requires detailed consideration of ponderomotive, relativistic and harmonic effects, all of which, in the ‘weakly relativistic’ case considered here, enter at the same order in the approximation scheme. Unlike the case of propagation parallel to a strong magnetic field, in oblique propagation we find a wide parameter range for modulational instability and soliton formation on time scales appropriate for pulsar micropulses.