The Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the derivation of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation, specifically transforming equation (1) into equation (2) using normalization techniques. Participants clarify the roles of parameters such as dispersion length (L_D) and nonlinear length (L_NL), and emphasize the importance of applying the product and chain rules correctly during differentiation. The issue of extra terms involving peak power (P_0) is resolved by confirming that P_0 is a constant, allowing it to be factored out of the derivatives. The sign of the GVD parameter (β2) is also addressed, highlighting its significance in the final equation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation
  • Familiarity with normalization techniques in differential equations
  • Knowledge of product and chain rules in calculus
  • Concept of group velocity dispersion (GVD) and its parameters
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation in detail
  • Learn about the implications of dispersion length (L_D) and nonlinear length (L_NL) in optical systems
  • Explore the application of product and chain rules in complex differentiation
  • Investigate the role of GVD parameters in fiber optics and wave propagation
USEFUL FOR

Researchers, physicists, and engineers working in fields related to nonlinear optics, wave propagation, and mathematical modeling of physical systems will benefit from this discussion.

roam
Messages
1,265
Reaction score
12
According to my textbook the nonlinear Schrödinger equation:

$$\frac{\partial A(z,T)}{\partial z} = -i \frac{\beta_2}{2} \frac{\partial^2A}{\partial T^2} + i \gamma |A|^2 A \ \ (1)$$

can be cast in the form

$$\frac{\partial U(z,\tau)}{\partial z} = -i \frac{sign \beta_2}{2} \frac{1}{L_D} \frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial \tau^2} + i \frac{1}{L_{NL}} |U|^2 U \ \ (2)$$

by normalizing with: ##\tau = \frac{T}{T_0},## and ##A(z,T) = \sqrt{P_0} U(z, \tau).##

But my textbook does not show the steps involved, and I can't arrive at equation (2) when I try to do this myself.

So substituting the two parameters into (1) we get

$$\frac{\partial (\sqrt{P_0} U(z, \tau))}{\partial z} = -i \frac{\beta_2}{2} \frac{\partial^2(\sqrt{P_0} U(z, \tau))}{\partial (\tau T_0)^2} + i \gamma |(\sqrt{P_0} U(z, \tau))|^2 (\sqrt{P_0} U(z, \tau))$$

We know that the dispersion length is given by ##L_D = \frac{T_0^2}{|\beta_2|}## and the the nonlinear length is ##L_{NL} = \frac{1}{\gamma P_0}.## When substituting these two the expression becomes

$$\frac{\partial (\sqrt{P_0} U(z, \tau))}{\partial z} = -i \frac{1}{2} \frac{1}{L_D} \frac{\partial^2(\sqrt{P_0} U(z, \tau))}{\partial \tau^2} + i \frac{1}{L_{NL}} \sqrt{P_0} P_0 U^2 U.$$

So, what can we do about the extra ##\sqrt{P_0}##'s and the extra ##P_0## (peak power)? What is wrong here?

Any explanation is greatly appreciated.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Resolve the remaining differentiations using the product rule and chain rule.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: roam
roam said:
extra ##P_0##
There is no extra ##P_0##. Check your derivation again.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: roam
DrClaude said:
There is no extra ##P_0##. Check your derivation again.

Sorry I meant that we get:

$$\frac{\partial (\boxed{\sqrt{P_0}} U(z, \tau))}{\partial z} = -i \frac{1}{2} \frac{1}{L_D} \frac{\partial^2 (\boxed{\sqrt{P_0}} U(z, \tau))}{\partial \tau^2} + i \frac{1}{L_{NL}} \boxed{ \sqrt{P_0}} U^2 U.$$

with the the P0 terms boxed. Do we then need to take the ##\sqrt{P_0}## terms out of the derivation and divide both sides by ##\sqrt{P_0}##? :confused:

Also how do I introduce the "sign β2" expression (sign of the GVD parameter) in there? That is either ##\pm 1## (for the focusing/defocusing case).

A. Neumaier said:
Resolve the remaining differentiations using the product rule and chain rule.

I am not sure what you mean. Are you referring to ##\partial / \partial z \sqrt{P_0} U(z, \tau)##, and ##\partial^2 / \partial^2 \tau \sqrt{P_0} U(z, \tau)##? Some more explanation would be very helpful.
 
roam said:
I am not sure what you mean. Are you referring to ∂/∂z√P0U(z,τ)\partial / \partial z \sqrt{P_0} U(z, \tau), and ∂2/∂2τ√P0U(z,τ)\partial^2 / \partial^2 \tau \sqrt{P_0} U(z, \tau)? Some more explanation would be very helpful.
I think he meant the product rule.
 
DrClaude said:
I think he meant the product rule.

But how is the product rule applicable in this case?
 
roam said:
Do we then need to take the √P0P0\sqrt{P_0} terms out of the derivation and divide both sides by √P0P0\sqrt{P_0}?
Check in your book what ##P_0## is, if it turns out to be a constant then you can take it out from the derivatives.
roam said:
Also how do I introduce the "sign β2" expression (sign of the GVD parameter) in there?
In defining ##L_D##, you use ##|\beta_2|## instead of ##\beta_2##. That explains why ##\textrm{sign }\beta_2## appears in the final equation - for any real number ##N##, you can always write it as ##|N| \textrm{sign }N ##.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: roam
Thank you very much for the clarification.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
2K