Optical gap solitons and truncated nonlinear Bloch waves in temporal lattices

TL;DR

This paper experimentally demonstrates the formation and stable propagation of various discrete temporal solitons, including gap solitons and nonlinear truncated Bloch waves, in an optical fiber system with a time-periodic potential.

Contribution

It introduces the experimental realization of different types of temporal solitons and nonlinear Bloch waves in optical fibers, providing detailed insights into their dynamics.

Findings

Stable propagation of multi-pulse solitons with defects

Observation of a strong soliton riding on a weaker truncated nonlinear Bloch wave

Propagation over up to eleven coupling lengths

Abstract

We experimentally demonstrate the formation and stable propagation of various types of discrete temporal solitons in an optical fiber system. Pulses interacting with a time-periodic potential and defocusing nonlinearity are shown to form gap solitons and nonlinear truncated Bloch waves. Multi-pulse solitons with defects, as well as novel structures composed of a strong soliton riding on a weaker truncated nonlinear Bloch wave are shown to propagate over up to eleven coupling lengths. The nonlinear dynamics of all pulse structures is monitored over the full propagation distance which provides detailed insight into the soliton dynamics.