Reviving Modulational Instability with Third-Order Dispersion

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a new type of modulational instability induced by third-order dispersion in a semiconductor superlattice, leading to novel nonlinear wave phenomena like Akhmediev breathers and Peregrine solitons.

Contribution

It reveals a previously unknown MI mechanism caused by TOD in NLS systems with spatial dispersion, supported by numerical predictions.

Findings

Discovery of TOD-induced MI in semiconductor superlattice

Prediction of Akhmediev breathers due to TOD

Prediction of Peregrine solitons due to TOD

Abstract

It is well-known that third-order dispersion (TOD) never allows the continuous wave of any nonlinear Schroedinger (NLS) type system to experience modulational instability (MI). Remarkably, we demonstrate a new kind of MI induced by TOD with spatial dispersion accounting for Wannier exciton mass in a ZnCdSe/ZnSe semiconductor superlattice. We also numerically predict the existence of novel Akhmediev breathers and Peregrine solitons due to the nonlinear development of MI with TOD.