The role of the self-steepening effect in soliton compression due to cross-phase modulation by dispersive waves

Abstract

We consider the compression and amplification of an ultrashort soliton pulse through the interaction with a weaker velocity-matched dispersive wave, in the so-called optical event horizon regime. We demonstrate that in this interaction scheme the self-steepening effect plays the key role in producing a strong soliton compression. While the interaction between the two pulses is mediated through cross phase modulation, the self-steepening effect produces an energy exchange, which enhances soliton compression. We provide numerical results and an analytical expression for energy transfer and compression rate.