The method of characteristics in the theory of resonant or nonresonant nonlinear optics
- 1 June 1972
- journal article
- Published by IOP Publishing in Journal of Physics A: General Physics
- Vol. 5 (6) , 820-829
- https://doi.org/10.1088/0305-4470/5/6/007
Abstract
The method of characteristics is used to analyse the system of five nonlinear partial differential equations describing ultrashort optical pulse propagation through a medium of two-level atoms. Contrary to previous suggestions it is shown rigorously that the system is causal: no physical speeds exceed c. The method is well adapted to numerical integration. It can take full account of both back scattering and the effect of a surface to the dielectric. A number of new physical results obtained this way are briefly reported.Keywords
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