Work

Perturbed Nonlinear Evolution of Optical Soliton Gases: Growth and Decay in Integrable Turbulence

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We present optical fiber experiments investigating the perturbed, nonintegrable evolution of soliton gases (SGs) under weak linear damping and gain. By measuring the amplitude and phase of the optical field in a recirculating loop, we determine the spectral distribution of SGs at various propagation distances. We demonstrate that a SG, initially prepared as a soliton condensate with a Weyl distribution, undergoes significant changes in its spectral distribution due to dissipation. Specifically, weak gain leads to the emergence of a bichromatic SG, while weak damping results in a SG with a semicircular spectral distribution at long propagation distances. These observed dissipation-driven changes in the SG's spectral characteristics are not explained by existing hydrodynamic or kinetic theories.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/hwpr-628r

Authors: Loic Fache, François Copie, Pierre Suret, Stéphane Randoux

Institution: Université de Lille

Language: English

Topic: Nonlinear Waves and Solitons

Subfield: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green