Interplay between Coherence and Incoherence in Multi-Soliton Complexes

Abstract

We analyze photo-refractive incoherent soliton beams and their interactions in Kerr-like nonlinear media. The field in each of M incoherently interacting components is calculated using an integrable set of coupled nonlinear Schrodinger equations. In particular, we obtain a general N-soliton solution, describing propagation of multi-soliton complexes and their collisions. The analysis shows that the evolution of such higher-order soliton beams is determined by coherent and incoherent contributions from fundamental solitons. Common features and differences between these internal interactions are revealed and illustrated by numerical examples.