Abstract
In this paper we investigate the self-focusing of a Gaussian beam in a saturable nonlinear medium. We show that the dynamics of the incident Gaussian beam become progressively more complicated as the ratio of the Gaussian spot size to that of the ground-state solution is increased for a fixed energy flux. As this ratio is increased (or decreased) from unity, recurrence of the field is observed followed by a mixture of recurrence and azimuthal-symmetry breaking, and finally there is strong azimuthal-symmetry breaking resulting in beam breakup into solitary waves. In this last stage there is no evidence that the field will recur at larger propagation distances.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 3168-3175 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Physical Review A |
Volume | 45 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1992 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics