Numerical method for an analysis of nonlinear light propagation in photorefractive media--time nonlocal approach.

Nonlinear light propagation in photorefractive media can be analyzed by numerical methods. The presented numerical approach has regard to the effects of time nonlocality. Two algorithms are presented, and compared in terms of physical results and computing times. The possibility to address the issue of time nonlocality in two ways is attributed to the fact that, it is possible to completely separate carrier dynamics evaluation and wave equation calculation. This in turn, allows to choose a short integration time for carrier dynamics and a longer one to solve the wave equation. The tests of the methods were carried out for a one-carrier model that describes most of photorefractive media, and for a model with bipolar transport and hot electron effect, used in descriptions of semiconductor materials.