Mathematical Nonlinear Optics.
Abstract
The principal investigator, together with a post-doctoral fellows Tetsuji Ueda and Xiao Wang, several graduate students, and colleagues, has applied the modern mathematical theory of nonlinear waves to problems in nonlinear optics and to equations directly relevant to nonlinear optics. Projects included (1) the interaction of laser light with nematic liquid crystals and (2) chaotic, homoclinic, small dispersive, and random behavior of solutions of the nonlinear Schroedinger equation. In project(1) the extremely strong nonlinear response of a continuous wave laser beam in a nematic liquid crystal medium has produced striking undulation and filamentation of the laser beam which has been observed experimentally and explained theoretically. In (2), qualitative properties of the nonlinear Schroedinger equation (which is the fundamental equation for nonlinear optics) have been identified and studied. These properties include optical shocking behavior in the limit of very small dispersion, chaotic and homoclinic behavior in discretizations of the partial differential equation, and random behavior.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA299703
Entities
People
- David W. Mclaughlin
Organizations
- Princeton University