Numerical investigation of a self-induced transparency soliton in a nonlinear photonic bandgap structure doped uniformly with two-level atoms

Abstract

We numerically study the characteristics of a nonlinear pulse that propagates through a one-dimensional photonic bandgap (PBG) structure uniformly doped with two-level atoms. The numerical model adopted is the coupled system of nonlinear coupled-mode equations and atomic Bloch equations. The simulation results show that a self-induced transparency (SIT) soliton and a gap soliton can coexist in a nonlinear PBG structure uniformly doped with resonant atoms. Although this mixed state, known as a SIT-gap soliton, near the PBG edge has been theoretically predicted, we numerically show that such a solitary wave still exists even if its central frequency is located deep inside the PBG. The propagating characteristics of the SIT-gap soliton are also discussed. (C) 2003 Optical Society of America.