Multimode systems of nonlinear equations: Derivation, integrability, and numerical solutions

We consider the propagation of electromagnetic pulses in isotropic media taking a third-order nonlinearity into account. We develop a method for transforming Maxwell's equations based on a complete set of projection operators corresponding to wave-dispersion branches (in a waveguide or in matter) with the propagation direction taken into account. The most important result of applying the method is a system of equations describing the one-dimensional dynamics of pulses propagating in opposite directions without accounting for dispersion. We derive the corresponding self-action equations. We thus introduce dispersion in the media and show how the operators change. We obtain generalized Schäfer–Wayne short-pulse equations accounting for both propagation directions. In the three-dimensional problem, we focus on optic fibers with dispersive matter, deriving and numerically solving equations of the waveguide-mode interaction. We discuss the effects of the interaction of unidirectional pulses. For the coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations, we discuss a concept of numerical integrability and apply the developed calculation schemes.