The light filament as vector solitary wave

TL;DR

This paper develops an analytical model for femtosecond optical pulse propagation in gases, revealing stable vector soliton solutions with unique polarization dynamics and weak self-compression effects.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analytical approach accounting for vector polarization and carrier-envelope phase, leading to the discovery of 3D+1 vector soliton solutions in gases.

Findings

Existence of 3D+1 vector soliton solutions with Lorentz shape

Stable propagation with polarization rotation at GHz frequencies

Observation of weak self-compression and spherical wave formation

Abstract

We present an analytical approach to the theory of nonlinear propagation of femtosecond optical pulses with broad-band spectrum in gases. The vector character of the nonlinear third-order polarization is investigated in details, taking into account the carrier to envelope phase. The corresponding system of vector amplitude equations is written by using left-hand and right-hand circular components of the electrical field. We found that this system nonlinear equations admits $3D+1$ vector soliton solution with Lorentz shape. The solution presents relatively stable propagation and rotation with GHz frequency of the vector of the electrical field in plane, orthogonal to the direction of propagation. The evolution of the intensity profile demonstrate weak self-compression and week spherical wave in the first milliseconds of propagation.