Bifurcation of gap solitons through catastrophe theory.

In the theory of optical gap solitons, slowly-moving finite-amplitude Lorentzian solutions are found to mediate the transition from bright to coexistent dark-antidark solitary wave pairs when the laser frequency is detuned out of the proper edge of a dynamical photonic band gap. Catastrophe theory is applied to give a geometrical description of this strongly asymmetrical "morphing" process.