A variational approach of nonlinear dissipative pulse propagation

A variational technique to deal with nonlinear dissipative pulse propagation is established. By means of a generalization of the Kantorovitch method, suitable for non-conservative systems, we are able to cope with an extended nonlinear Schrodinger equation (NLSE) which describes pulse propagation under the influence of nonlinear loss and/or gain, in particular, in the presence of two-photon absorption (TPA). Based on the characteristics of the exact solution of the NLSE in the absence of TPA, we investigate the effects of frequency dispersion of the nonlinear susceptibility associated to the two-photon resonance, obtaining the necessary conditions for a solitary wave solution, even in the presence of a self-steepening term.