Bright optical spatial solitons in photorefractive waveguides having both the linear and quadratic electro-optic effect

Propagation characteristics of bright solitons are studied in a photorefractive waveguide having both the linear and quadratic electro-optic effect under the paraxial and Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin-Jeffreys approximation. The planar waveguide structure enhances the self-focusing while reducing the minimum or threshold power required for self trapping. The waveguide structure embedded in the crystal can self trap a soliton of much lower power, which otherwise would not have formed without the presence of the waveguiding. As the waveguide parameter increases, minimum required power to self trap the beam decreases. Four distinct regions of power are identified and the dynamical evolution of the solitons in these power regions is demonstrated. In addition, the dynamical evolution of the solitons is demonstrated for different waveguide strength parameter. The existence of bistable states is also predicted. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.