We study rational solutions of continuous wave backgrounds with the critical frequencies of the Sasa-Satsuma equation, which can be used to describe the evolution of the optical field in a nonlinear fiber with some high-order effects. We find a striking dynamical process that two W-shaped solitons are generated from a weak modulation signal on the continuous wave backgrounds. This provides a possible way to obtain stable high-intensity pulses from a low-intensity continuous wave background. The process involves both modulational instability and modulational stability regimes, in contrast to the rogue waves and W-shaped solitons reported before which involve modulational instability and stability, respectively. Furthermore, we present a phase diagram on a modulational instability spectrum plane for the fundamental nonlinear localized waves obtained already in the Sasa-Satsuma equation. The interactions between different types of nonlinear localized waves are discussed based on the phase diagram.

• Received 17 November 2015
• Revised 25 January 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.93.032215