Abstract

The properties of periodic nonlinear systems of infinite length are well understood. If the periodicity is somehow "weak," as would he the case in optical fibers and waveguides, the properties are similar to those of the Thirring model from field theory, which is well known to be integrable and to have soliton solutions. In the low-intensity limit, the system satisfies the nonlinear Schrodinger equation, which is integrable as well, and also has soliton solutions. With the introduction of boundaries, one finds, depending on the parameters, strikingly varied behavior. On one hand, one can find regimes in which the behavior is very soliton-like, which indicates integrability. On the other hand, one also observes "chaotic" regimes, which are characteristic of nonintegrable systems.

© 1990 Optical Society of America