This thesis is concerned with various methods for the control and investigation of pulse dynamics in a Photonic Crystal Fibre (PCF) and of the radiation driven by a short pulse. In particular the focus is on pulses in the anomalous dispersion region which would form solitons in the absence of higher order effects. Several different types of radiation can be driven by such pulses if they are perturbed by higher order dispersive and non-linear effects - for example Resonant Radiation (RR) and Negative Resonant Radiation (NRR) two dispersive waves which gain energy at the expense of the pulse. The feature of NRR which is of particular importance is that it is the first observed example of a coupling between positive and negative frequencies in optics. This has only been possible due to recent advances in fields such as PCFs, lasers and analogue systems. As with many scientific discoveries, NRR was found by bringing together ideas and techniques from these different fields. Both the pulse and the driven radiation are investigated using a number of different pulse and PCF parameters. These include power, chirp, polarisation and PCF dispersion. These are used to vary the wavelengths at which the driven radiation occurs as well as its generation efficiency. Furthermore the power and chirp are used to vary where in the PCF the driven radiation is generated by controlling where the driving pulse compresses and spectrally expands. This property is used to investigate different stages in the evolution of the pulse and driven radiation as well as to optimise the generation efficiency of the driven radiation.

Dans ce mémoire, on étudie la désintégration d’un faux vide, c’est-à-dire un vide qui est un minimum relatif d’un potentiel scalaire par effet tunnel. Des défauts topologiques en 1+1 dimension, appelés kinks, apparaissent lorsque le potentiel possède un minimum qui brise spontanément une symétrie discrète. En 3+1 dimensions, ces kinks deviennent des murs de domaine. Ils apparaissent par exemple dans les matériaux magnétiques en matière condensée. Un modèle à deux champs scalaires couplés sera étudié ainsi que les solutions aux équations du mouvement qui en découlent. Ce faisant, on analysera comment l’existence et l’énergie des solutions statiques dépend des paramètres du modèle. Un balayage numérique de l’espace des paramètres révèle que les solutions stables se trouvent entre les zones de dissociation, des régions dans l’espace des paramètres où les solutions stables n’existent plus. Le comportement des solutions instables dans les zones de dissociation peut être très différent selon la zone de dissociation dans laquelle une solution se trouve. Le potentiel consiste, dans un premier temps, en un polynôme d’ordre six, auquel on y rajoute, dans un deuxième temps, un polynôme quartique multiplié par un terme de couplage, et est choisi tel que les extrémités du kink soient à des faux vides distincts. Le taux de désintégration a été estimé par une approximation semi-classique pour montrer l’impact des défauts topologiques sur la stabilité du faux vide. Le projet consiste à déterminer les conditions qui permettent aux kinks de catalyser la désintégration du faux vide. Il appert qu’on a trouvé une expression pour déterminer la densité critique de kinks et qu’on comprend ce qui se passe avec la plupart des termes. / In this thesis, we study the tunneling decay of the false vacuum, that is, a vacuum that is a relative minimum of a scalar potential. Topological defects in 1+1 dimension, called kinks, appear when the potential possesses a minimum that spontaneously breaks a discrete symmetry. In 3+1 dimensions, these kinks become domain walls. For instance, they appear in magnetic materials in condensed matter. A model with two coupled scalar fields will be studied, as well as the solutions to the equations of motion that arise from it. We will then analyze how the energy of the static solutions depend on the parameters of the model. A numerical survey of parameter space reveals that the stable solutions are located between dissociation zones, areas in parameter space where stable solutions no longer exist. The behavior of the unstable solutions in the dissociation zones can be very different depending on which dissociation zone a solution is found near the dissociation zone. The potential first consists in a sixth-order polynomial, to which is added a quartic polynomial multiplied by a coupling term, and is chosen such that the extremities of the kink are at distinct false vacua. The decay rate has been estimated by a semiclassical approximation to show the impact of topological defects on the stability of the false vacuum. The project consists in determining the conditions that allow the kinks to catalyze false vacuum decay. It appears that we found an expression for the critical kink density and that we understand what happens with most terms.

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Diferentes tipos de sólitons têm sido observados em meios ópticos não-lineares, e seus comportamentos individuais descritos pela equação não-linear de Schrödinger e pela equação não-linear de Schrödinger generalizada, em diferentes dimensões e geometrias. Entretando, há situações onde muitos sólitons são gerados formando uma densa rede de sólitons. Nestes casos, é impossível desprezar as interações entre os sólitons e temos que considerar a evolução da estrutura como um todo. A teoria das ondas de choque dispersivas em meios fotorrefrativos e a teoria da difração não-linear de intensos feixes de luz propagando-se em meios fotorrefrativos com um fio refletor incorporado a esse meio foi desenvolvida, e verificamos que está em excelente acordo com nossas simulações numéricas. No caso da formação de sólitons em condensados, fizemos cálculos numéricos realísticos dentro da aproximação de campo médio usando a equação de Gross-Pitaevskii, incluindo também um potencial de confinamento, um potencial móvel e um potencial dipolar. A maioria dos resultados puderam ser comparados com experimentos recentes. / Different kinds of solitons have already been observed in various nonlinear optical media, and their behavior has been explained in the frameworks of such mathematical models as the nonlinear Schrödinger and generalized nonlinear Shrödinger equations for different dimensions and geometries. However, there are situations when many solitons are generated so that they can comprise a dense soliton train. In such situations, it is impossible to neglect interactions between solitons and one has to consider the evolution of the structure as a whole rather than to trace the evolution of each soliton separately. The theory of optical shock waves in photorefractive media and the theory of nonlinear diffraction of light beams propagating in photorefractive media with embedded reflecting wire was developed and agrees very well with our numerical simulations. In the condensate soliton formation case, we did numerical calculations in the mean field approach using the Gross-Pitaevskii equation, adding a trap potential and a moving potential and a potential of the dipole-dipole interaction. The main results were also checked by recent experiments.

Nessa tese, o objetivo principal foi verificar a estabilidade de sistemas atômicos condensados, sujeitos a diferentes combinações lineares e não-lineares de redes ópticas bie tridimensionais, considerando algumas situações simétricas e assimétricas. Com esse objetivo, foram realizadas análises variacionais e simulações numéricas exatas da equação não-linear correspondente que descreve sistemas condensados de Bose-Einstein, tipo-Schrödinger, mais conhecida como equação de Gross-Pitaevskii. No caso bidimensional, com redes ópticas cruzadas, linear e não-linear, foi verificada a existência de estabilidade para certas regiões de parâmetros das interações. Observou-se que essa estabilidade desaparece ao se incluir uma terceira dimensão sem a presença de um potencial de confinamento. No caso tridimensional, considerando redes ópticas lineares e não-lineares cruzadas, a estabilidade só ocorre quando consideramos uma interação confinante na terceira dimensão, no caso, uma segunda rede óptica linear. Finalmente, espera-se que nossos resultados venham a ser úteis para estudos experimentais que vêm sendo feitos em laboratórios de átomos ultra-frios. / In this thesis, the main objective was the verification of stability of condensed atomic systems, subject to different combinations of linear and nonlinear bi- and tridimensional optical lattices , considering some symmetric and asymmetric situations. With this objective, were performed variational analyzes and numerical exact simulations of the nonlinear Schrödinger-type equation that describes Bose-Einstein condensate systems, better known as Gross-Pitaevskii equation. In two-dimensional case, with a crossed linear and nonlinear optical lattice, the stability was confirmed for certain parameter regions of the interactions. It was observed that the stability disappears when including a third dimension without the presence of a confinement potential. In the three dimensional case, considering crossed linear and nonlinear optical lattices, stability occurs only when considering an interaction confining the third dimension, in this case a second linear optical lattice. Finally, it is expected that our results will be useful for experimental studies which have been done in the laboratories of ultra-cold atoms. Keywords:

No presente trabalho foi estudada a dinâmica de um sistema de muitas partículas no regime de temperaturas ultra-baixas. Realizamos um estudo dinâmico de sistemas condensados bidimensionais em uma rede óptica não-linear em uma direção e também na presença de uma armadilha harmônica assimétrica. Investigamos alguns aspectos sobre a estabilização e propagação de sólitons em condensados de Bose-Einstein. O colapso da função de onda é evitado pela não-linearidade periódica dissipativa, no caso de um meio com campo de fundo positivo (com sistemas atômicos atrativos). A variação adiabática do comprimento de espalhamento de fundo leva a existência de sólitons de onda de matéria metaestáveis. Um sóliton dissipativo pode existir no meio atrativo bidimensional (2D) com uma não-linearidade periódica unidimensional (1D), quando um mecanismo de alimentação atômica é utilizado. Um sóliton estável pode existir no caso de condensados repulsivos, em um campo de fundo negativo, com uma armadilha harmônica em uma direção e uma rede óptica não-linear na outra direção. Os resultados inteiramente numéricos, para a equação de Gross-Pitaevskii 2D, confirmam as simulações da abordagem variacional. / In this work the dynamics of a system of many particles in a ultra-low temperature regime was studied. We performed a dynamic study of two-dimensional condensate systems into a nonlinear optical lattice in one direction and also in the presence of an asymmetrical harmonic trap. We investigated some aspects of the stabilization and spread of solitons in a Bose-Einstein condensate. In the case of positive background field media (with attractive atomic systems), the collapse of the wave-packet is arrested by the dissipative periodic nonlinearity. The adiabatic variation of the background scattering length leads to metastable matter-wave solitons. When the atom feeding mechanism is used, a dissipative soliton can exist in an attractive bidimensional (2D) media with unidimensional (1D) periodic nonlinearity. In the case of repulsive condensates, with a negative background field, a stable soliton may exist when we have an harmonic trap in one direction and a nonlinear optical lattice in the other. Variational approach simulations are confirmed by full numerical results for the 2D Gross-Pitaevskii equation.

"Optical vortices are singularities in phase fronts of laser beams. They are characterized by a dark core whose size may dramatically affect their behavior upon propagation. Previously, only large-core vortices have been extensively studied. The object of the research presented in this dissertation was to explore ways of generating small-core optical vortices (also called optical vortex filaments), and to examine their propagation using analytical, numerical and experimental methods. Computer-generated holography enabled us to create arbitrary distributions of optical vortex filaments for experimental exploration. We used hydrodynamic paradigms to develop an heuristic model which described the dependence of vortex motion on other vortices and the background beam, both qualitatively and quantitatively. We predicted that pair of optical vortex filaments will rotate with angular rates inversely proportional to their separation distance (just like vortices in a fluid). We also reported the first experimental observation of this novel fluid-like effect. It was found, however, that upon propagation in linear media, the fluid-like rotation was not sustained owing to the overlap of diffracting vortex cores. Further numerical studies and experiments showed that rotation angle may be enhanced in nonlinear self-defocusing media. The results presented in this thesis offer us a better understanding of dynamics of propagating vortices which may result in applications in optical switching, manipulation of micro-particles and optical limiting."

Dans ce travail, nous présentons la réalisation de composants originaux d’optique guidéeutilisant une technique de fabrication basée sur l'autofocalisation d’un faisceau lumineux.Cette technique permet la photo-induction de guides d’onde optiques au coeur de cristauxde LiNbO3 par effet photoréfractif.En premier lieu, des guides adiabatiques ont été générés dans des cristaux de LiNbO3 enappliquant un gradient de température selon l’axe de propagation lors de l’étaped’induction. Ces résultats expérimentaux ont été appuyés par un modèle numérique 3-Dprenant en compte la dynamique de l'effet photoréfractif.Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons démontré que la présence d’un micro-canal présentsur le trajet d’un faisceau ne perturbe pas son autofocalisation. Cette configuration a permisde fabriquer un capteur optofluidique qui permet de mesurer l'indice de réfraction d’unliquide présent dans le canal sur une plage de mesure de 1.2 à 1.8 avec une précision de4x10-3. Enfin, cette étude a été étendue à des faisceaux sous forts angles d’incidence avec lecanal ce qui a été exploité pour induire un séparateur de polarisation en optique guidée. Ceséparateur, fabriqué en une seule étape d’induction, est constitué d’un guide d’entrée seséparant en deux guides de sortie supportant des composantes croisées de polarisation. / In this work, we present the fabrication of innovative guided optics components using asimple and efficient method based on self-trapping of light beams. This technique leads tothe formation of optical waveguides inside LiNbO3 crystals by photorefractive effect.The generation of adiabatic waveguides is first achieved by applying a temperature gradientalong the propagation axis. These experimental results have been confirmed by a 3-Dnumerical model taking into account the photorefractive dynamic.Subsequently, we have shown that the presence of a micro-channel forming a gap on thebeam trajectory does not affect the self-trapping effect. This configuration has been used tofabricate an optofluidic sensor able to measure the refractive index of liquids present in thechannel with a measuring range between 1.2 and 1.8 and a resolution of 4x10-3. Finally, thisstudy has been extended to self-trapped beams at large angle of incidence with the channelwhich has been exploited to fabricate a guided polarization separator. This polarizationseparator is formed of one input waveguide that separates into two output waveguidessupporting crossed polarizations components.

Nous voulons déterminer les solitons spatiaux dans les bres optiques présentant un effet non-linéaire de type Kerr optique. Pour cela, nous proposons une nouvelle approche numérique basée sur la Méthode des Éléments Finis qui est particulièrement bien adaptée à l'étude de milieux inhomogènes. Un modèle scalaire du champ électrique dans les bres optiques est utilisé pour mettre en ÷uvre et valider notre méthode et comprendre la signication physique des nouvelles solutions dans un cas simple. Le champ est supposé harmonique en temps et suivant la direction d'invariance de la bre mais inhomogène selon sa section transverse. Plusieurs exemples dans les bres à saut d'indice et dans les bres optiques microstructurées (FOMs) à c÷ur plein de dimension transverse nie sont décrits. Pour chaque géométrie, une étude complète est réalisée pour obtenir et prouver numériquement l'existence d'une unique solution non-linéaire auto-cohérente ou soliton spatial de plus haute énergie atteignable avant l'autofocalisation instable. Le soliton spatial dépend du prol transverse ni de la structure, correspond au soliton de Townes dans le cas du milieu homogène mais est différent de celui-ci dans les bres optiques étudiées. Notre nouvelle approche de l'étude numérique de l'effet Kerr dans les bres optiques permet ainsi de généraliser le soliton de Townes. Cependant, le prol de l'indice de réfraction induit par l'effet Kerr optique montre que l'approximation du guidage faible n'est plus respectée et donc que les caractéristiques de la solution non-linéaire sont mal évalu ées dans le modèle scalaire. L'implémentation du cas vectoriel sans approximation est donc réalisée. La même étude que dans le cas scalaire est alors menée en consid érant toutes les composantes du champ électrique. Enn, pour étendre le champ d'application de notre méthode numérique, les solutions non-linéaires sont étudiées dans des FOMs avec un défaut creux au centre. Par analogie avec la physique du solide, les congurations donneur/accepteur sont dénies et les solutions non-linéaires sont analysées selon la taille du défaut. L'étude des effets Kerr positif et négatif à travers ces congurations nous permet de découvrir de nouveaux comportements non-linéaires dans ces structures.

Des gouttes d'un fluide déposées sur la surface libre d'un bain du même fluide coalescent normalement avec celui-ci en quelques dixièmes de seconde. En faisant osciller verticalement le bain, on peut inhiber entièrement cette coalescence. En effet si l'accélération oscillante est d'amplitude suffisante, la goutte sautille sur la surface. Les gouttes peuvent survivre dans cet état pour un temps illimité. Lors de chacun de ses chocs, la goutte déforme la surface. Si la viscosité est faible, il en résulte l'émission d'ondes capillaires. Les gouttes interagissent par celles-ci et s'organisent spontanément en états liés ou en réseaux réguliers. Toutefois, à proximité du seuil de l'instabilité de Faraday, le choc des gouttes suffit à générer localement une onde de Faraday amortie. On constate que l'interaction d'une seule goutte avec l'onde qu'elle génère conduit à une bifurcation où la goutte acquière spontanément une vitesse horizontale bien définie. On obtient ainsi ce que nous appelons des "marcheurs". Cette transition est décrite en détail expérimentalement et théoriquement. Enfin nous nous sommes intéressés aux interactions de plusieurs de ces marcheurs via leurs ondes. On peut voir que l'interaction attractive de deux marcheurs les conduits à orbiter l'une autour de l'autre. Ces orbites ont des diamètres discrets et résultent de l'interaction que créent entre les gouttes les interférences des ondes qui leur sont associées. On discutera les similarités qui existent entre ces nouveaux objets et les structures localisées (quasi-solitons) observées dans divers systèmes dissipatifs à deux dimensions.