The Continuum Mechanics of Soliton Collisions

verfasst von

Oliver Melchert, Stephanie Willms, Ihar Babushkin, Bernhard Roth, Günter Steinmeyer, Uwe Morgner, Ayhan Demircan

Abstract

The wave-particle dualism is one of the most important paradigms of modern physics, often attributing a particle character to objects that are in principle waves. One such example is a soliton, representing a wave that can propagate over extended distances without changing its shape, resembling the trajectories of rigid mechanical bodies in Newtonian physics, even in a collision process [1]. However, this analogy has strong restrictions as still wave properties are required and more importantly only the trivial solution of the momentum conservation equation (exactly equal solitions) can be addressed. Here we take the analogy one decisive step further, discussing completely Newtonian soliton collisions, detached from the wave description. Moreover, we show that the solitons act like extended massive objects, which deform in accord with the continuum mechanical concept of classical theory of elasticity. The interaction offers a variety of possibilities for controlled exchange of energy and momentum, opening a perspective for new applications of solitons in optical switching or trapping.

Organisationseinheit(en)

PhoenixD: Simulation, Fabrikation und Anwendung optischer Systeme
Hannoversches Zentrum für Optische Technologien (HOT)
Institut für Quantenoptik

Externe Organisation(en)

Max-Born-Institut für Nichtlineare Optik und Kurzzeitspektroskopie (MBI)

Typ

Aufsatz in Konferenzband

Anzahl der Seiten

1

Publikationsdatum

06.2019

Publikationsstatus

Veröffentlicht

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Spektroskopie, Elektronische, optische und magnetische Materialien, Instrumentierung, Atom- und Molekularphysik sowie Optik, Computernetzwerke und -kommunikation

Elektronische Version(en)

https://doi.org/10.1109/CLEOE-EQEC.2019.8873143 (Zugang: Geschlossen)