Numerical simulation of solitons switching and propagating in asymmetric directional couplers

A numerical investigation, based on the use of split step Fourier transformation algorithm, of all-optical solitons switching in asymmetric directional couplers is presented. The numerical algorithm is described in details. The analysis highlights the influence of the different effective mode area, the phase- and group–velocity mismatch, the different dispersion between two cores on the switching and propagation of short pulses. The investigation indicates that the phase velocity mismatch and the different effective mode area can reduce the coupling length while the different group velocity and the different dispersion between two cores do not change the coupling length. We have also found that the increase of effective mode area ratio can lead to an increase of the switching threshold power but improve significantly the switching steepness, the increase of the phase velocity mismatch can cause a decrease of the switching threshold power but degrade the switching steepness, the increase of the ratio of dispersion can result in a decrease of the switching threshold power and vary the switching steepness, the increase of group velocity mismatch can give rise to an increase of the switching threshold power but improve obviously the switching steepness. Furthermore, the group velocity mismatch can induce solitons pulse to walk off or stretch in the asymmetric directional coupler.