Mathieu Chauvet

Bio: Mathieu Chauvet is an academic researcher from Centre national de la recherche scientifique. The author has contributed to research in topics: Photorefractive effect & Lithium niobate. The author has an hindex of 20, co-authored 125 publications receiving 1364 citations. Previous affiliations of Mathieu Chauvet include University of Burgundy & Franche Comté Électronique Mécanique Thermique et Optique Sciences et Technologies.

Screening-photovoltaic bright solitons in lithium niobate and associated single-mode waveguides

Abstract: Photorefractive screening-photovoltaic solitons are observed in lithium niobate. Two-dimensional bright circular solitons are formed thanks to a strong static bias field, externally applied, opposite to the photovoltaic internal field. The dynamics of the soliton formation is monitored and compared to a time-dependent numerical model allowing determination of the photovoltaic field. Efficient single mode waveguides are shown to be memorized by the soliton beam for a long time.

Structure, nonlinear properties, and photosensitivity of (GeSe_2)_100-x(Sb_2Se_3)_x glasses

Abstract: Chalcogenide glasses from (GeSe2)​100-​x(Sb2Se3)​x system were synthesized, with x varying from 5 to 70, in order to evaluate the influence of antimony selenide addn. on nonlinear optical properties and photosensitivity. Nonlinear refractive index and two photon absorption coeffs. were measured both at 1064 nm in picosecond regime using the Z-​scan technique and at 1.55 μm in femtosecond regime using an original method based on direct anal. of beam profile change while propagating in the chalcogenide glasses. The study of their photosensitivity at 1.55 μm revealed highly glass compn. dependent behavior and quasi-​photostable compns. have been identified in femtosecond regime. To better understand these characteristics, the evolution of the glass transition temp., d. and structure with the chem. compn. were detd.

Pyroliton: pyroelectric spatial soliton.

Abstract: The concept of optical beam self-trapping in pyroelectric photorefractive medium is presented. We show that the temperature controlled spontaneous polarisation of ferroelectric crystals produces an optical nonlinearity that can lead to formation of 2-D spatial soliton named pyroliton. Experimental demonstrations performed in lithium niobate crystals illustrate that efficient self-trapping occurs either for ordinary or extraordinary polarisation under moderate temperature increase. For instance, a 15µm diameter pyroliton can be formed with a 10 degree temperature raise.

Self-trapping of planar optical beams by use of the photorefractive effect in InP:Fe

Abstract: We demonstrate what we believe to be the first experimental observation of self-trapping and self-deflection of a planar optical beam by the photorefractive effect in a semiconductor. The semiconductor material is indium phosphide doped with iron. We show that the observed focusing and defocusing effects follow the component of the two-wave-mixing space charge field that is in phase with the intensity pattern, whereas the spatial beam deflection effects follow the 90°-shifted component.

Spatiotemporal behavior of periodic arrays of spatial solitons in a planar waveguide with relaxing Kerr nonlinearity

Abstract: We report picosecond pulsed experiments and numerical simulations of spatially induced modulational instability, which we used to form stable periodic arrays of bright soliton beams in a planar Kerr-like CS2 waveguide. We have found that the generation stage of these arrays is accurately described by the usual nonlinear Schrodinger wave equation, whereas the temporal dynamics of the nonlinearity is beneficial for subsequent stable propagation of the soliton arrays. In the picosecond regime the finite molecular relaxation time of the reorientational nonlinear index inhibits the Fermi–Pasta–Ulam recurrence predicted for an instantaneous Kerr nonlinearity. Moreover, the inhibition is associated with a novel spatiotemporal dynamics confirmed by numeric and streak-camera recordings.

Photonic crystals

Abstract: The term photonic crystals appears because of the analogy between electron waves in crystals and the light waves in artificial periodic dielectric structures. During the recent years the investigation of one-, two-and three-dimensional periodic structures has attracted a widespread attention of the world optics community because of great potentiality of such structures in advanced applied optical fields. The interest in periodic structures has been stimulated by the fast development of semiconductor technology that now allows the fabrication of artificial structures, whose period is comparable with the wavelength of light in the visible and infrared ranges.

What about the messenger

Abstract: Recently NAFU SA and other role players expressed some criticism about government programmes. The criticism was not so much about the objectives and content of these programmes, but rather about their accessibility, or lack thereof, to emerging farmers.

Interactions between Light Waves in a Nonlinear Dielectric

Abstract: The induced nonlinear electric dipole and higher moments in an atomic system, irradiated simultaneously by two or three light waves, are calculated by quantum-mechanical perturbation theory. Terms quadratic and cubic in the field amplitudes are included. An important permutation symmetry relation for the nonlinear polarizability is derived and its frequency dependence is discussed. The nonlinear microscopic properties are related to an effective macroscopic nonlinear polarization, which may be incorporated into Maxwell's equations for an infinite, homogeneous, anisotropic, nonlinear, dielectric medium. Energy and power relationships are derived for the nonlinear dielectric which correspond to the Manley-Rowe relations in the theory of parametric amplifiers. Explicit solutions are obtained for the coupled amplitude equations, which describe the interaction between a plane light wave and its second harmonic or the interaction between three plane electromagnetic waves, which satisfy the energy relationship ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{3}={\ensuremath{\omega}}_{1}+{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{2}$, and the approximate momentum relationship ${\mathrm{k}}_{3}={\mathrm{k}}_{1}+{\mathrm{k}}_{2}+\ensuremath{\Delta}\mathrm{k}$. Third-harmonic generation and interaction between more waves is mentioned. Applications of the theory to the dc and microwave Kerr effect, light modulation, harmonic generation, and parametric conversion are discussed.

Optical spatial solitons: historical overview and recent advances

Abstract: Solitons, nonlinear self-trapped wavepackets, have been extensively studied in many and diverse branches of physics such as optics, plasmas, condensed matter physics, fluid mechanics, particle physics and even astrophysics. Interestingly, over the past two decades, the field of solitons and related nonlinear phenomena has been substantially advanced and enriched by research and discoveries in nonlinear optics. While optical solitons have been vigorously investigated in both spatial and temporal domains, it is now fair to say that much soliton research has been mainly driven by the work on optical spatial solitons. This is partly due to the fact that although temporal solitons as realized in fiber optic systems are fundamentally one-dimensional entities, the high dimensionality associated with their spatial counterparts has opened up altogether new scientific possibilities in soliton research. Another reason is related to the response time of the nonlinearity. Unlike temporal optical solitons, spatial solitons have been realized by employing a variety of noninstantaneous nonlinearities, ranging from the nonlinearities in photorefractive materials and liquid crystals to the nonlinearities mediated by the thermal effect, thermophoresis and the gradient force in colloidal suspensions. Such a diversity of nonlinear effects has given rise to numerous soliton phenomena that could otherwise not be envisioned, because for decades scientists were of the mindset that solitons must strictly be the exact solutions of the cubic nonlinear Schrodinger equation as established for ideal Kerr nonlinear media. As such, the discoveries of optical spatial solitons in different systems and associated new phenomena have stimulated broad interest in soliton research. In particular, the study of incoherent solitons and discrete spatial solitons in optical periodic media not only led to advances in our understanding of fundamental processes in nonlinear optics and photonics, but also had a very important impact on a variety of other disciplines in nonlinear science. In this paper, we provide a brief overview of optical spatial solitons. This review will cover a variety of issues pertaining to self-trapped waves supported by different types of nonlinearities, as well as various families of spatial solitons such as optical lattice solitons and surface solitons. Recent developments in the area of optical spatial solitons, such as 3D light bullets, subwavelength solitons, self-trapping in soft condensed matter and spatial solitons in systems with parity-time symmetry will also be discussed briefly.