Femtosecond optical shocks and wave breaking in fiber propagation

Detailed analysis is presented of the recent observation [Phys. Rev. Lett. 62, 531 (1989)] and new measurements of the formation of an optical intensity shock and the subsequent wave breaking in the nonlinear propagation of visible 1-psec pulses in an optical fiber. The observed shock has a duration of 150 fsec, and the wave breaking is manifested by 400-fsec oscillations in the wake of the shock. The observations are compared with numerical integrations of the nonlinear Schrodinger equation (NLSE). The calculations generally agree with the measurements; however, two measured features are predicted neither by the NLSE nor by the NLSE when it is modified to include higher-order effects. The measured features are explained by the presence of small satellites and asymmetry in the input pulse. © 1989, Optical Society of America.