Stimulated Raman self-scattering of femtosecond pulses. I. Soliton and non-soliton regimes of coherent self-scattering

Stimulated Raman self-scattering (SRSS) is shown not to be a unique effect observed exclusively in the propagation of femtosecond optical solitons through optical fibres. SRSS always accompanies the self-action of high-power femtosecond pulses in a variety of media. Unlike classical SRS, SRSS has no lasing threshold and can appear when the pulse spectrum overlaps the band of vibrational resonances of the medium. A classification of the main SRSS regimes is given. The basic features of different regimes of ultrashort-pulse self-scattering are investigated by computer simulation techniques.