The study of soliton interactions is of significance for improving pulse qualities in nonlinear optics. In this paper, interaction between two solitons, which is governed by the Hirota equation, is considered. Via use of the Hirota method, an analytic soliton solution is obtained. Then a two-period vibration phenomenon is observed. Moreover, turning points of the coefficients of higher-order terms, which are related with sudden delaying or leading, are found and analyzed. With different coefficient constraints, soliton interactions are discussed by different frequency separation with the split-step Fourier method, and characteristics of soliton interactions are exhibited. Through turning points, we get a pair of solitons which tend to be bound solitons but not exactly. Furthermore, we control a pair of solitons to emit at different emission angles. The stability of the two-period vibration is analyzed. Results in this paper may be helpful for the applications of optical self-routing, waveguiding, and faster switching.

• Received 25 September 2014
• Revised 6 December 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.91.033201