Jared Hudock

Surface lattice solitons

We study theoretically nonlinear surface waves in optical lattices and show that solitons can exist at the heterointerface between two different semi-infinite 1D waveguide arrays, as well as at the boundaries of a 2D nonlinear lattice. The existence and properties of these surface soliton solutions are investigated in detail.

Observation of vortex-ring “discrete” solitons in 2D photonic lattices

We present the experimental observation of both on-site and off-site vortex ring solitons of unity topological charge in a nonlinear photonic lattice, along with a theoretical study of their propagation dynamics and stability

Vector discrete nonlinear surface waves.

It is theoretically shown that multi-component discrete vector surface waves can exist in arrays of coupled waveguides. These mutually trapped surface states primarily reside in the first waveguide of a semi-infinite array. The existence and stability of such surface waves are systematically investigated.

Anisotropic diffraction and elliptic discrete solitons in two-dimensional waveguide arrays

We demonstrate that both the linear (diffraction) and the nonlinear dynamics of two-dimensional waveguide arrays are considerably more complex and versatile than their one-dimensional counterparts. The discrete diffraction properties of these arrays can be effectively altered, depending on the propagation Bloch k-vector within the first Brillouin zone of the lattice. In general, this diffraction behavior is anisotropic and therefore permits the existence of a new class of discrete elliptic solitons in the nonlinear regime.

Discrete solitons in nonlinear zigzag optical waveguide arrays with tailored diffraction properties

We show that the discrete diffraction properties of a nonlinear optical zigzag waveguide array can be significantly modified, by exploiting the topological arrangement of the lattice itself. This introduces extended interactions (beyond nearest-neighbors), which, in turn, affect the lattice dispersion relation within the Brillouin zone. As a result, we demonstrate that new families of discrete soliton solutions are possible which are stable over a wide range of parameters. Our method opens new opportunities for diffraction management that can be employed to generate low power spatial discrete optical solitons.

Excitation of strongly confined scalar and vector self-trapped beams in one-dimensional arrays of Kerr-nonlinear channel waveguides

The excitation and propagation of both scalar and vector optical waves in one-dimensional nonlinear arrays of channel waveguides was investigated both theoretically and experimentally. In this arrangement vector discrete solitons are also possible through the coexistence of two orthogonally polarized fields. At high input power levels a rapid collapse of the power back to the incidence channel occurred over a small power range for both scalar and vector inputs.

Discrete vector solitons in Kerr nonlinear waveguide arrays

We report the first experimental observation of vector discrete solitons. We find that at appropriate power levels two orthogonally polarized beams collapse into a highly confined vector discrete soliton in spite of the presence of energy exchange due to four-wave-mixing.

Diffraction management and elliptic discrete solitons in two-dimensional waveguide array lattices

We demonstrate that the discrete diffraction properties of a 2-D waveguide array can be effectively altered depending on the propagation k-vector within the Brillouin zone of the lattice. In general, this diffraction behavior is anisotropic, and therefore, allows the existence of discrete elliptic solitons.

Solitons in 2D optically-induced photonic lattices

We report the first experimental observation of 2D optical lattice solitons. We discuss soliton photonics and present our recent progress on vector, vortex, and random-phase solitons in nonlinear periodic structures.

Lattice surface solitons

It is theoretically shown that nonlinear surface-waves are possible in optical lattices. Such solitons can exist at the interface between two different semi-infinite 1D waveguide arrays and also at the boundaries of a 2D lattice.