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Experimental generation of Riemann waves in optics: a route to shock wave control

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posted on 2023-06-09, 02:52 authored by Benjamin Wetzel, Domenico Bongiovanni, Michael Kues, Yi Hu, Zhigang Chen, Stefano Trillo, John M. Dudley, Stefano Wabnitz, Roberto Morandotti
We report the first observation of Riemann (simple) waves, which play a crucial role for understanding the dynamics of any shock-bearing system. This was achieved by properly tailoring the phase of an ultrashort light pulse injected into a highly nonlinear fiber. Optical Riemann waves are found to evolve in excellent quantitative agreement with the remarkably simple inviscid Burgers equation, whose applicability in physical systems is often challenged by viscous or dissipative effects. Our method allows us to further demonstrate a viable novel route to efficiently control the shock formation by the proper shaping of a laser pulse phase. Our results pave the way towards the experimental study, in a convenient benchtop setup, of complex physical phenomena otherwise difficult to access.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Physical Review Letters

ISSN

0031-9007

Publisher

American Physical Society

Issue

7

Volume

117

Page range

073902-1

Department affiliated with

  • Physics and Astronomy Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2016-09-13

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2016-09-13

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2016-09-13

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