Nonlinear Guided Waves and Symmetry Breaking in Left-handed Waveguides

Abstract

We analyze nonlinear guided waves in a planar waveguide made of a left-handed material surrounded by a Kerr-like nonlinear dielectric, and predict that such a waveguide can support fast and slow symmetric and antisymmetric nonlinear modes. We study the symmetry breaking bifurcation and asymmetric modes in such a symmetric structure. The analysis of nonlinear dispersion properties of the guided waves shows that the modes can be either forward or backward. Show more