One-Dimensional Optical Wave Turbulence: Experiment and Theory

TL;DR

This paper reviews experimental and theoretical advances in one-dimensional optical wave turbulence, demonstrating inverse cascade phenomena, soliton formation, and a six-wave interaction mechanism underlying nonlinear wave coupling.

Contribution

It introduces an experimental setup for 1D OWT, observes inverse cascade and soliton formation, and develops a theoretical model based on six-wave interactions.

Findings

Inverse cascade observed experimentally leading to soliton formation

Final state dominated by a single strong soliton

Theoretical model based on six-wave interactions explains the cascade

Abstract

We present a review of the latest developments in 1D OWT. Based on an original experimental setup that allows for the implementation of 1D OWT, we are able to show that an inverse cascade occurs through the spontaneous evolution of the nonlinear field up to the point when modulational instability leads to soliton formation. After solitons are formed, further interaction of the solitons among themselves and with incoherent waves leads to a final condensate state dominated by a single strong soliton. Motivated by the observations, we develop a theoretical description, showing that the inverse cascade develops through six-wave interaction, and that this is the basic mechanism of nonlinear wave coupling for 1D OWT. We describe theory, numerics and experimental observations while trying to incorporate all the different aspects into a consistent context.