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Weak interactions of solitary waves in the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equations are studied. It is first shown that these interactions exhibit similar fractal dependence on initial conditions for different nonlinearities. Then by using the Karpman-Solov'ev method, a universal system of dynamical equations is derived for the velocities, amplitudes, positions and phases of interacting solitary waves. These dynamical equations contain a single parameter, which accounts for the different forms of nonlinearity. When this parameter is zero, these dynamical equations are integrable, and the exact analytical solutions are derived. When this parameter is non-zero, the dynamical equations exhibit fractal structures which match those in the original wave equations both qualitatively and quantitatively. Thus the universal nature of fractal structures in the weak interaction of solitary waves is analytically established. The origin of these fractal structures is also explored. It is shown that these structures bifurcate from the initial conditions where the solutions of the integrable dynamical equations develop finite-time singularities. Based on this observation, an analytical criterion for the existence and locations of fractal structures is obtained. Lastly, these analytical results are applied to the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equations with various nonlinearities such as the saturable nonlinearity, and predictions on their weak interactions of solitary waves are made.

Fractal scatterings in weak solitary wave interactions is analyzed for generalized nonlinear Schrödiger equations (GNLS). Using asymptotic methods, these weak interactions are reduced to a universal second-order map. This map gives the same fractal scattering patterns as those in the GNLS equations both qualitatively and quantitatively. Scaling laws of these fractals are also derived.

Previous studies have shown that fractal scatterings in weak interactions of solitary waves in the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equations are described by a universal second-order separatrix map. In this paper, this separatrix map is analyzed in detail, and hence a complete characterization of fractal scatterings in these weak interactions is obtained. In particular, scaling laws of these fractals are derived analytically for different initial conditions, and these laws are confirmed by direct numerical simulations. In addition, an analytical criterion for the occurrence of fractal scatterings is given explicitly.

Solitons of the power-energy saturation (PES) equation are studied using adiabatic perturbation theory. In the anomalous regime individual soliton pulses are found to be well approximated by solutions of the classical nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation with the key parameters of the soliton changing slowly as they evolve. Evolution equations are found for the pulse amplitude(s), velocity(ies), position(s), and phase(s) using integral relations derived from the PES equation. The results from the integral relations are shown to agree with multi-scale perturbation theory. It is shown that the single soliton case exhibits mode-locking behavior for a wide range of parameters, while the higher states form effective bound states. Using the fact that there is weak overlap between tails of interacting solitons, evolution equations are derived for the relative amplitudes, velocities, positions, and phase differences. Comparisons of interacting soliton behavior between the PES equation and the classical NLS equation are also exhibited.

It is known that weak interactions of two solitary waves in generalized nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equations exhibit fractal dependence on initial conditions, and the dynamics of these interactions is governed by a universal two-degree-of-freedom ODE system [Y. Zhu J. Yang, Universal fractal structures in the weak interaction of solitary waves in generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equations, Phys. Rev. E 75 (2007) 036605]. In this paper, this ODE system is analyzed comprehensively. Using asymptotic methods along separatrix orbits, a simple second-order map is derived. This map does not have any free parameters after variable rescalings, and thus is universal for all weak interactions of solitary waves in generalized NLS equations. Comparison between this map’s predictions and direct simulations of the ODE system shows that the map can capture the fractal-scattering phenomenon of the ODE system very well both qualitatively and quantitatively.

The linear spectrum and corresponding Bloch modes of shallow honeycomb lattices near Dirac points are investigated. Via perturbation theory, the dispersion relation is found to have threefold degeneracy at leading order with eigenvalue splitting at the following two orders; i.e., the threefold eigenvalue splits into single and double values. Multiscale perturbation methods are employed to describe the nonlinear dynamics of the associated wave envelopes. The dynamics of the envelope depends on different asymptotic balances whereupon a three-level nonlinear Dirac-type equation or a two-level nonlinear Dirac equation is derived. The analysis agrees well with direct numerical simulations.

The validity of using the tight-binding approximation for the nonlinear Schrödinger equations with a two-dimensional optical lattice is considered. This work provides a rigorous foundation for a technique based on “orbital” functions that is central to solid-state physics and nonlinear optics. Simple and honeycomb lattices are addressed, and it is therefore shown that the use of tight-binding approximations is justified in complicated situations.

The propagation of wave envelopes in two-dimensional (2-D) simple periodic lattices is studied. A discrete approximation, known as the tight-binding (TB) approximation, is employed to find the equations governing a class of nonlinear discrete envelopes in simple 2-D periodic lattices. Instead of using Wannier function analysis, the orbital approximation of Bloch modes that has been widely used in the physical literature, is employed. With this approximation the Bloch envelope dynamics associated with both simple and degenerate bands are readily studied. The governing equations are found to be discrete nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS)-type equations or coupled NLS-type systems. The coefficients of the linear part of the equations are related to the linear dispersion relation. When the envelopes vary slowly, the continuous limit of the general discrete NLS equations are effective NLS equations in moving frames. These continuous NLS equations (from discrete to continuous) also agree with those derived via a direct multiscale expansion. Rectangular and triangular lattices are examples.

The spectrum of a Schrödinger operator with a perfect honeycomb lattice potential has special points, called Dirac points, where the lowest two branches of the spectrum touch. Deformations can result in the merging and disappearance of the Dirac points, and the originally intersecting dispersion relation branches separate. Corresponding to these deformations, nonlinear envelope equations are derived and their dynamics are studied. In the region where Dirac points exist, a maximally balanced equation is derived which has limits to a nonlinear Schrödinger--Kadomtsev--Petviashvili (NLSKP)-type equation and its dispersionless reduction. When the Dirac points disappear and a gap opens, a different maximally balanced equation is derived which has the NLSKP equation and a one-dimensional nonlocal evolution equation as limits. When the gap is sufficiently wide, a nonlinear Dirac equation with nonzero mass and a nonlinear Schrödinger focusing-defocusing system are found. The latter two equations admit nonlinear localized modes. Typical dynamical behaviors of the effective envelope equations are presented.

We examine the impact of small parity-time (PT) symmetric perturbations on nonlinear optical honeycomb lattices in the tight-binding limit. We show for strained lattices that complex dispersion relationships do not form under perturbation, and we find a variety of nonlinear wave equations which describe the effective dynamics in this regime. The existence of semilocalized gap solitons in this case is also shown, though we numerically demonstrate these solitons are likely unstable. We show for unstrained lattices under the effect of a restricted class of PT perturbations, which prevent complex dispersion relationships from appearing, that nontrivial phase dynamics emerge as a result of the PT perturbation. This phase can be understood as momentum imparted to optical beams by the lattice, thus showing PT perturbations offer potentially novel means for the control of light in honeycomb lattices.