Observation of self-steepening of optical pulses with possible shock formation
Date
1973-08-13Author
Grischkowsky, D.
Courtens, Eric
Armstrong, J. A.
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Near-resonant light pulses were steepened by passage through Rb vapor. The rise time changed from typically 4 nsec to less than 1 nsec, and complicated envelopes developed. The self-steepening, well described by adiabatic following, results from (i) an intensity- dependent pulse velocity, (ii) self-phase modulation combined with strong group-velocity dispersion. Numerical integration gives quantitative agreement with observations and indicates shock formation on the leading edge.
Citation
Grischkowsky, D., Courtens, E., & Armstrong, J. A. (1973). Observation of self-steepening of optical pulses with possible shock formation. Physical Review Letters, 31(7), 422-425. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.31.422