Influence of nonlinearly induced diffraction on spatial solitary waves

Spatial solitary waves carried by a TE mode in planar optical waveguides with Kerr-type of nonlinearity are investigated based on a modified nonlinear (1 + 1) Schrodinger equation. Looking for effects instigated by the spatial inhomogeneity of the nonlinear polarization, the nonzero divE-term is taken into account in the nonlinear guided wave equation together with the nonparaxial approach and vector model. It is shown that, at self-focusing of beams in a (1 + 1) geometry, the effect coming out from the divergence term predominates over modifications related to the nonparaxial vector model. This term is interpreted as nonlinearly induced diffraction which plays the role of an effective saturation. Analytical solutions supported by numerical results are found.