Impact of fourth order dispersion on modulational instabilities in asymmetrical three-core optical fiber

In this paper we investigate the impact of linear coupling coefficient and coupling coefficient dispersion on modulational instability (MI) in the presence of fourth order dispersion (FOD) in an asymmetric three core optical fiber under normal and anomalous dispersion regime. In addition, we also considered the impact of symmetric and asymmetric power ratio on MI characteristics. It is found that there is significant influence by linear coupling coefficient and coupling coefficient dispersion (CCD) on MI under different dispersion regimes. In anomalous dispersion regime, at β4 < 0 the generation of smaller MI secondary side bands were observed at higher frequencies while at normal dispersion the effect of FOD leads to breaking of MI gain at different values of coupling coefficient. Though the appearance of the MI gain at different frequencies is highly controlled by FOD, but the amplitude of MI gain found to be reduced with increasing FOD under each dispersion regimes. In case of CCD, the impact of FOD found to be quite insensitive and found no MI gain in the absence of CCD under symmetric power ratio under both dispersion regimes. © 2020 Elsevier GmbH