Higher order dispersion effects in the noninstantaneous nonlinear Schrödinger equation

Abstract

We present a systematic analysis of the effects, of higher-order dispersion, noninstantaneous nonlinear response, as well as stochastic coefficients in optical fiber. This study is motivated by recent experimental observation of a new modulational instability spectral window induced by fourth-order dispersion in a normally dispersive single-mode optical fiber. Analytical expression of pulse amplitude is deduced with the second-order gain nonuniformity and the stimulated-Brillouin scattering-induced third-order as well as fourth-order dispersion effects involved. The influence of stochasticity, as well as the delayed Raman response in the nonconventional sidebands obtained due to the fourth-order dispersion, is considered. We note that the shape of the spectrum, and in particular the relative intensities of the higher order harmonics, is highly sensitive to the initial presence of classical noise, and can therefore be taken as a signature that the MI is seeded by vacuum fluctuations. Some direct simulations to see the evolution of different continuous wave states are reported. These show the formation of modulation instability pulses as well as transitions from lower amplitude continuous wave states to higher amplitude continuous wave states. The present results fit well with recent experimental investigations.

Keywords:

• optical fiber nonlinear effect
• modulational instability
• fourth-order dispersion effect
• random inhomogeneities
• noninstantaneous response
• pulse train generation

Acknowledgements

A.M. is grateful for the hospitality of the Max-Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems in Dresden, where this work was initiated. The CMSPS of the Abdus Salam ICTP of Trieste, Italy, is also acknowledged. K.P. wishes to thank the CSIR, DST-DFG, and Ramanna Fellowship (DST), Government of India, for financial support through major projects.