Zeno effect and switching of solitons in nonlinear couplers

TL;DR

This paper explores how dissipation influences soliton behavior in nonlinear couplers, revealing the Zeno effect and soliton switching, with potential compensation techniques involving active segments.

Contribution

It demonstrates the Zeno effect for solitons in nonlinear couplers and introduces methods to compensate power losses using active and dissipative segments.

Findings

Dissipation can increase coupler transparency via the Zeno effect.

Localized dissipation can induce soliton switching between arms.

Active segments can fully compensate for power losses.

Abstract

The Zeno effect is investigated for soliton type pulses in a nonlinear directional coupler with dissipation. The effect consists in increase of the coupler transparency with increase of the dissipative losses in one of the arms. It is shown that localized dissipation can lead to switching of solitons between the arms. Power losses accompanying the switching can be fully compensated by using a combination of dissipative and active (in particular, parity-time -symmetric) segments.