Comparison of the Simulation Algorithms for Nonlinear Pulse Propagation in Multimode Fibers

Nonlinear dynamics of pulse propagation in single-mode fiber have been investigated extensively. Recently, with the wide use of multimode fiber in optical technologies such as fiber lasers, imaging, optical fiber communication systems etc., multimode fiber has gradually received attention. Therefore, the investigation of nonlinear pulse propagation in multimode fibers becomes more and more important. However, the numerical simulation of nonlinear pulse propagation in multimode fibers is a thorny problem. In this Presentation, we compare three simulation algorithms for the nonlinear propagation in multimode fibers. The first algorithm is Massively Parallel Algorithm, based on the Generalized Multimode Nonlinear Schrodinger equation (GMMNLSE); the second is, three-dimensional (3D) algorithm, based on the traditional Generalized Nonlinear Schrodinger Equation (GNLSE), which describes the propagation of whole 3D optical field in multimode fibers; and the third is Radial Coordinate (RC) algorithm, based on the RC GNLSE which is simplified from the GNLSE by the Hankel Transform. These three algorithms are compared from the aspects of operation speed, numerical error and applicable scenarios, and their advantages and disadvantages are analyzed. This investigation will provide some guidelines and suggestions for the numerical investigations of nonlinear pulse propagation in multimode fibers, including the fields of optical fiber communications with multimode fibers, nonlinear fiber optics, spatiotemporal mode-locking in multimode cavities, etc.