Self-similar propagation and asymptotic optical waves in nonlinear waveguides

The properties of self-similar optical waves propagating in a tapered cubic-quintic nonlinear waveguide are investigated. Using a lens-type transformation we obtain the exact analytical self-similar solutions which describe the propagation of bright-shaped solitons, dark-shaped solitons, kink-shaped solitons, and antikink-shaped solitons. The stability of the solutions is examined by numerical simulations such that stable bright solitons are found. Beyond the exact analytical solutions, asymptotic optical waves are also found by employing a direct ansatz. These waves possess linear chirps and can propagate self-similarly. The possibility of controlling the shape of output asymptotic optical waves is demonstrated. The analytical results are confirmed by numerical simulations. Finally, we investigate the generation and propagation properties of self-similar optical waves in a quintic nonlinear medium.