Work

Quintic nonlinearity enables modulation instability in normal dispersion regimes for spectral control

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Modulation instability in cubic-quintic nonlinear media is rigorously analyzed using an extended nonlinear Schrödinger equation framework. Results demonstrate that focusing quintic nonlinearity ( γ 5 > 0) reduces the critical power for instability onset by 40%–60% relative to cubic systems while defocusing terms ( γ 5 < 0) elevate thresholds by 60%–80%. The instability bandwidth achieving 80% spectral broadening with γ 5 > 0. Septic nonlinearity ( γ 7 > 0) amplifies maximum gain by 30%–50% at high intensities. Crucially, γ 5 > 0 enables MI in normal dispersion regimes ( β 2 > 0) unattainable in purely cubic media. These findings advance predictive models for semiconductor-doped photonic crystal fibers and colloidal quantum dots. Applications include optimized supercontinuum sources, tunable optical frequency combs, and terahertz pulse generation systems with enhanced spectral control.

Source: Partial Differential Equations in Applied Mathematics

DOI: 10.1016/j.padiff.2026.101339

Authors: Sujata Vedi, Mohit Sharma, Monika Goyal, Yogesh Sharma

Institutions: Mody University of Science and Technology, DAV University, Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary University

Language: English

Topic: Nonlinear Waves and Solitons

Subfield: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,470

Funders: Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India, Macau University of Science and Technology, Science and Engineering Research Board