Quantitative Analysis of Shock Wave Dynamics in a Fluid of Light

T. Bienaimé, M. Isoard, Q. Fontaine, A. Bramati, A. M. Kamchatnov, Q. Glorieux, and N. Pavloff
Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 183901 – Published 5 May 2021
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Abstract

We report on the formation of a dispersive shock wave in a nonlinear optical medium. We monitor the evolution of the shock by tuning the incoming beam power. The experimental observations for the position and intensity of the solitonic edge of the shock, as well as the location of the nonlinear oscillations are well described by recent developments of Whitham modulation theory. Our work constitutes a detailed and accurate benchmark for this approach. It opens exciting possibilities to engineer specific configurations of optical shock wave for studying wave-mean flow interaction.

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  • Received 2 February 2021
  • Accepted 2 April 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.183901

© 2021 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

  1. Research Areas
Nonlinear DynamicsAtomic, Molecular & Optical

Authors & Affiliations

T. Bienaimé1, M. Isoard2,3, Q. Fontaine1, A. Bramati1, A. M. Kamchatnov4,5, Q. Glorieux1, and N. Pavloff2

  • 1Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, ENS-PSL Research University, Collège de France, Paris 75005, France
  • 2Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, LPTMS, 91405 Orsay, France
  • 3Physikalisches Institut, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Straße 3, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
  • 4Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Institutsky lane 9, Dolgoprudny, Moscow region 141700, Russia
  • 5Institute of Spectroscopy, Russian Academy of Sciences, Troitsk, Moscow 108840, Russia

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Issue

Vol. 126, Iss. 18 — 7 May 2021

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