Dark soliton dynamics under the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation

The dynamical properties of the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation are considered in the defocusing (normal dispersion) regime. It is found that under appropriate conditions stable evolution of dark solitons can occur. These conditions are derived using a newly developed perturbation theory that also reveals an important aspect of the dynamics: the formation of a shelf that accompanies the soliton and is an intricate part of its evolution. Further conditions to suppress this effect are also derived. These analytical predictions are found to be in excellent agreement with direct numerical simulations.