JE25: Three-wave models for Backward Raman and Brillouin Amplification

Note

This note is written in conjunction with Updesh Verma, a C.V. Raman Fellow visiting Princeton University (2013-2014).

In this note I test a solver for the three-wave resonant interaction (TWRI) model, and apply it to Backward Raman Amplification (BRA) and Backward Brillouin Amplification (BBA) problems. The TWRI equations are written in symmetric form

\[\begin{split}\left( \frac{\partial}{\partial t} + v_1 \frac{\partial}{\partial x} \right) E_1 & = c_1 E_2^* E_3^* \\ \left( \frac{\partial}{\partial t} + v_2 \frac{\partial}{\partial x} \right) E_2 & = c_2 E_1^* E_3^* \\ \left( \frac{\partial}{\partial t} + v_3 \frac{\partial}{\partial x} \right) E_3 & = c_3 E_1^* E_2^*\end{split}\]

where, for \(i=1,2,3\), \(E_i\) are (complex) wave amplitudes, \(v_i\) are wave velocities and \(c_i\) are real coupling constants.

It should be mentioned that for the BBA in the strong coupling regime, the final equation above is replaced instead by

\[\left( \frac{\partial^2}{\partial t^2} - v_3^2 \frac{\partial^2}{\partial x^2} \right) E_3 & = c_3 E_1^* E_2^*\]

I.e, a wave-equation rather than a advection equation. See, for example, 1. To solve this second order equation, an auxiliary variable is introduced

\[w = \frac{\partial E_3}{\partial t} - v_3 \frac{\partial E_3}{\partial x}.\]

Using this, we can rewrite the second-order wave equation as a first-order equation

\[\frac{\partial w}{\partial t} + v_3 \frac{\partial w}{\partial x} = c_3 E_1^* E_2^*\]

These two coupled equations are then solved (instead of the single second-order equation) using the standard advection equation solver.

The coupled system of equations are solved in Gkeyll using a Strang operator splitting method. In each time-step, the source coupling is updated first by half time-step, then the advection terms are updated by a full time-step, and finally the source terms are updated again by half time-step. To solve the source coupling ODEs two solvers are implemented: an Crank-Nicholson implicit solver and an explicit Runge-Kutta 4th order scheme. Both of these ODE solvers, when used in the full TWRI solver, given nearly identical results, and hence can be used interchangeably.

As is well known (see for example 2) the nature of the solution, for \(v_1<v_2<v_3\) depends on the signs of the coefficients \(c_1,c_2,c_3\). Let \(\eta_i=\mathrm{sign}(c_i)\), then the cases can be distinguished by

\[\eta_1 \eta_2 \eta_3 = \eta, \quad \eta = \pm 1\]

The three cases identified are the explosive, simulated backscatter and soliton exchange. For \(\eta=1\), we have

\[\begin{split}(\eta_1,\eta_2,\eta_3) &= (+,+,+) &\quad\mathrm{explosive} \\ (\eta_1,\eta_2,\eta_3) &= (+,-,-) &\quad\mathrm{backscatter} \\ (\eta_1,\eta_2,\eta_3) &= (-,-,+) &\quad\mathrm{backscatter} \\ (\eta_1,\eta_2,\eta_3) &= (-,+,-) &\quad\mathrm{soliton\ exchange}\end{split}\]

The case of interest here is the simulated backscatter, which can be used for laser pulse amplification using the BRA and BBA processes.

Backward Raman Amplification

For BRA, the

Warning

I hope to complete this note in the near future.

References

1

Lehmann, G., & Spatschek, K. H.. “Nonlinear Brillouin amplification of finite-duration seeds in the strong coupling regime”. Physics of Plasmas, 20 (7), 073112. doi:10.1063/1.4816030

2

Kaup, D. J., Reiman, A., & Bers, A. “Space-time evolution of nonlinear three-wave interactions. I. Interactions in a homogeneous medium”. Reviews of Modern Physics, 51 (2), 275.