Crossover from two-frequency pulse compounds to escaping solitons

The nonlinear interaction of copropagating optical solitons enables a large variety of intriguing bound-states of light. We here investigate the interaction dynamics of two initially superimposed fundamental solitons at distinctly different frequencies. Both pulses are located in distinct domains of anomalous dispersion, separated by an interjacent domain of normal dispersion, so that group velocity matching can be achieved despite a vast frequency gap. We demonstrate the existence of two regions with different dynamical behavior. For small velocity mismatch we observe a domain in which a single heteronuclear pulse compound is formed, which is distinct from the usual concept of soliton molecules. The binding mechanism is realized by the mutual cross phase modulation of the interacting pulses. For large velocity mismatch both pulses escape their mutual binding and move away from each other. The crossover phase between these two cases exhibits two localized states with different velocity, consisting of a strong trapping pulse and weak trapped pulse. We detail a simplified theoretical approach which accurately estimates the parameter range in which compound states are formed. This trapping-to-escape transition allows to study the limits of pulse-bonding as a fundamental phenomenon in nonlinear optics, opening up new perspectives for the all-optical manipulation of light by light.

Methods for online measurement and control of section deviations during hot rolling of wire rod and bars

In the joint project PIREF, the metal forming group of the University of Duisburg-Essen has collaborated with the University of Applied Sciences Ruhr-West Mülheim (Ruhr), the University of Siegen, EMG Automation GmbH and SMS group GmbH to develop sensors, for an online measurement of material velocity and cross section as well as control models for the rolling process of wire rod and bars. The University of Duisburg-Essen provided a metal forming process model for the rolling process to assess the influencing parameters on the rolled section precision. A technique was found to segregate height- from width- influencing parameters from a measured cross-sectional area and actual roll gap. With this measuring technology and with help of the process model, rules for control of the rolling process to achieve close tolerances were obtained. The modelling was accompanied by rolling trials on a laboratory rolling mill at the University of Duisburg-Essen, where a typical Round-OvalRound pass sequence was used for validation of the rolling model concerning lateral spread, inlet and outlet velocity as well as rolling force and torque calculation. The present paper shows how the material flow and the distribution of the velocity in the roll gap can be described. In subsequent rolling of bar and rod in a continuous rolling mill the dimensions can be influenced by application of longitudinal stresses and screwdown. The application of stress can be achieved by an inter-stand velocity mismatch. With the developed models the necessary velocity mismatch can be calculated.

Deterministic generation of parametrically driven dissipative Kerr soliton

We theoretically study the nature of parametrically driven dissipative Kerr soliton (PD-DKS) in a doubly resonant degenerate micro-optical parametric oscillator (DR-DμOPO) with the cooperation of χ (2) and χ (3) nonlinearities. Lifting the assumption of close-to-zero group velocity mismatch (GVM) that requires extensive dispersion engineering, we show that there is a threshold GVM above which single PD-DKS in DR-DμOPO can be generated deterministically. We find that the exact PD-DKS generation dynamics can be divided into two distinctive regimes depending on the phase matching condition. In both regimes, the perturbative effective third-order nonlinearity resulting from the cascaded quadratic process is responsible for the soliton annihilation and the deterministic single PD-DKS generation. We also develop the experimental design guidelines for accessing such deterministic single PD-DKS state. The working principle can be applied to different material platforms as a competitive ultrashort pulse and broadband frequency comb source architecture at the mid-infrared spectral range.

Influence of dispersion slope on soliton spectral tunneling in photonic crystal fiber

We report a numerical investigation of how the dispersion slope affects the soliton spectral tunneling (SST) in a photonic crystal fiber with three zero dispersion wavelengths. It is discovered that a larger dispersion slope makes group-velocity mismatch between the initial soliton and the transferred wave thereby suppressing the SST effect, while a proper decrease of the dispersion slope enhances the SST effect to widen a supercontinuum range. Besides, we find a soliton-like leaking dispersion wave, which can sustain information and energy for a short time within a particular spectral range.

Group velocity mismatch at ultrashort electromagnetic pulse propagation in nonlinear metamaterials

The parametric interaction of optical wave pulses in metamaterials is considered in the first approximation of the theory of dispersion. The interaction between the quasi-monochromatic pump wave and the wave pulse at the total frequency with quadratic phase modulation is assumed. The results of calculation of the shape of the spectrum of an excited signal wave at a difference frequency are presented for low frequency pumping. It is shown that the effects of group mismatch in metamaterials lead to a narrowing of the spectrum of the excited wave. With an increase in the modulation degree of a weak exciting wave, the spectrum of the excited wave broadens.

Coherent transition radiation from attosecond electron pulses

We show theoretically and by simulations how coherent transition radiation from tilted surfaces can be used for characterization of attosecond free-electron pulses such as used for pump-probe electron microscopy and diffraction. The tilted geometries eliminate velocity-mismatch and beam-diameter effects, providing sensitivity to attosecond times even for almost arbitrarily large beam diameters.