Vector solitons in nonlinear isotropic chiral metamaterials

• Published in: Journal of physics. A, Mathematical and theoretical Vol. 44; no. 43; pp. 435203 - 13
• Main Authors: Tsitsas, N L, Lakhtakia, A, Frantzeskakis, D J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 28.10.2011; IOP
• Subjects: Belts; Chirality; Exact sciences and technology; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Metamaterials; Nonlinearity; Physics; Schroedinger equation; Spectra; Vectors (mathematics); Refractive index; Permeability; Bright soliton; Electromagnetic fields; Maxwell equations; Dark soliton; Chirality; Perturbation techniques; Nonlinearity; Schroedinger equation; Models; Resonance; Permittivity
• ISSN: 1751-8121; 1751-8113; 1751-8121
• DOI: 10.1088/1751-8113/44/43/435203

Starting from the Maxwell equations, we used the reductive perturbation method to derive a system of two coupled nonlinear Schrodinger (NLS) equations for the two Beltrami components of the electromagnetic field propagating along a fixed direction in an isotropic nonlinear chiral metamaterial. With single-resonance Lorentz models for the permittivity and permeability and a Condon model for the chirality parameter, in certain spectral regimes, one of the two Beltrami components exhibits a negative-real refractive index when nonlinearity is ignored and the chirality parameter is sufficiently large. We found that, inside such a spectral regime, there may exist a subregime wherein the system of the NLS equations can be approximated by the Manakov system. Bright-bright, dark-dark, and dark-bright vector solitons can be formed in that spectral subregime.