Polarization instability, steering, and switching of discrete vector solitons

Abstract

We study the dynamics of discrete vector solitons in arrays of weakly coupled birefringent optical waveguides with cubic nonlinear response. We start with a modulational instability analysis, followed by approximate analytical solutions in the form of strongly localized modes. Next, we compute the effective Peierls-Nabarro potential for these modes and obtain the spatial average of the power transfer between both polarizations modes as a function of their relative phase. Finally, we combine the concepts of polarization mode instability with discreteness-induced beam trapping by the array, and demonstrate numerically the amplification of a weak signal by a strong pump of the other polarization, combined with simultaneous discretized all-optical switching. © 2005 The American Physical Society.