Is regular light considered a soliton?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter FlyTy
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Light Wave
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
1 reply · 2K views
FlyTy
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
"Solitary waves that run a long distance without losing their shape or dying out are a special class of waves called solitons."

Such examples as in light waves in optical fibers, vibration frequencies within crystalline structures, and B.E. condensates.

My question is does regular light wave count as a soliton? Does light ever slow down or run out so to speak?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
If you emit a spherical pulse of light it will decay as 1/r² so it will decay and not be a soliton. You might count a well-focused laser pulse as a soliton.