Negative refraction and spatial echo in optical waveguide arrays

Abstract

The special symmetry properties of the discrete nonlinear Schrodinger equation allow a complete revival of the initial wavefunction. That is employed in the context of stationary propagation of light in a waveguide array. As an inverting system we propose a short array of almost isolated waveguides which cause a relative pi phase shift in the neighboring waveguides. By means of numerical simulations of the model equations we demonstrate a novel mechanism for the negative refraction of spatial solitons.