Spectral transverse instabilities and soliton dynamics in the higher-order multidimensional nonlinear Schrodinger equation

Spectral transverse instabilities of one-dimensional solitary wave solutions to the two-dimensional nonlinear Schrodinger (NLS) equation with fourth-order dispersion/diffraction subject to higher-dimensional perturbations are studied. A linear boundary value problem governing the evolution of the transverse perturbations is derived. The eigenvalues of the perturbations are numerically computed using Fourier and finite difference differentiation matrices. It is found that for both signs of the higher-order dispersion coefficient there exists a finite band of unstable transverse modes. In the long wavelength limit we derive an asymptotic formula for the perturbation growth rate that agrees well with the numerical findings. Using a variational formulation based on Lagrangian model reduction, an approximate expression for the perturbation eigenvalues is obtained and its validity is compared with both the asymptotic and numerical results. The time dynamics of a one-dimensional soliton stripe in the presence of a transverse perturbation is studied using direct numerical simulations. Numerical nonlinear stability analysis is also addressed. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.