Generation of multicolor spatial solitons with pulsed light

Abstract

The impact of temporal effects to the generation of multiple wave quadratic spatial solitons with pulsed light is shown. We examine soliton formation under conditions of second-harmonic generation but our conclusions are relevant to soliton formation in all parametric processes. It is shown how group-velocity mismatch between the multiple interacting signals prevents spatial soliton formation with too short pulses. Illustrative examples of the minimum pulse width allowed for soliton generation in lithium niobate (LiNbO3), potassium titanyl phosphate (KTiOPO4), and lithium triborate (LiB3O5) are discussed.