We consider scattering of low-amplitude dispersive waves at an intense optical soliton which constitutes a nonlinear perturbation of the refractive index. Specifically, we consider a single-mode optical fiber and a group velocity matched pair: an optical soliton and a nearly perfectly reflected dispersive wave, a fiber-optical analog of the event horizon. By combining (i) an adiabatic approach that is used in soliton perturbation theory and (ii) scattering theory from quantum mechanics, we give a quantitative account of the evolution of all soliton parameters. In particular, we quantify the increase in the soliton peak power that may result in the spontaneous appearance of an extremely large, so-called champion soliton. The presented adiabatic theory agrees well with the numerical solutions of the pulse propagation equation. Moreover, we predict the full frequency band of the scattered dispersive waves and explain an emerging caustic structure in the space-time domain.

We present the infinite hierarchy of Sasa-Satsuma evolution equations. The corresponding Lax pairs are given, thus proving its integrability. The lowest order member of this hierarchy is the nonlinear Schrödinger equation, while the next one is the Sasa-Satsuma equation that includes third-order terms. Up to sixth-order terms of the hierarchy are given in explicit form, while the provided recurrence relation allows one to explicitly write all higher-order terms. The whole hierarchy can be combined into a single general equation. Each term in this equation contains a real independent coefficient that provides the possibility of adapting the equation to practical needs. A few examples of exact solutions of this general equation with an infinite number of terms are also given explicitly.

An analytical model for nonlinear volume oscillations in a bounded cold plasma is developed. Although here the familiar propagating wave solutions do not exist, exact nonlinear standing waves subject to appropriate boundary conditions can nevertheless be found. The behaviors of the electrons and ions are described self-consistently in terms of Lagrangian variables. The analytical solutions are compared with that from particle-in-cell simulations. Good agreement is found in the regimes of interest.