title: Formation of X-pulses in periodically gain/loss modulated materials.
abstract: We propose a versatile and efficient technique for the formation of X-pulses in materials with a periodical gain/loss modulation on the wavelength scale. We show that in such materials the strong wave-vector anisotropy of amplification/attenuation of the Bloch modes enables the shaping of ultra-short light pulses around the edges of the first Brillouin zone. X-pulses generation is numerically demonstrated and the optimum conditions are derived; specific characteristics of X-pulses can be tailored by appropriate selection of the geometry and modulation depth.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
authors.forename: Yurii
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Loiko
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Botey
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herrero
authors.forename: Kestutis
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Staliunas
mesh_terms: D016880:Anisotropy; D004867:Equipment Design; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008027:Light; D008422:Materials Testing; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D016011:Normal Distribution; D055095:Optics and Photonics / Q000379:methods*; D010825:Physics / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors