Optical pulse propagation with minimal approximations

Propagation equations for optical pulses are needed to assist in describing applications in ever more extreme situations—including those in metamaterials with linear and nonlinear magnetic responses. Here I show how to derive a single first-order propagation equation using a minimum of approximations and a straightforward “factorization” mathematical scheme. The approach generates exact coupled bidirectional equations, after which it is clear that the description can be reduced to a single unidirectional first-order wave equation by means of a simple “slow evolution” approximation, where the optical pulse changes little over the distance of one wavelength. It also allows a direct term-to-term comparison of an exact bidirectional theory with the approximate unidirectional theory.