Raman soliton generation from laser inputs in SRS

Stimulated Raman scattering of a laser pump pulse seeded by a Stokes pulse generically leaves a two-level medium initially at rest in an excited state constituted of static solitons and radiation. This is proved by building t he IST solution of SRS on the semi-line, when the group velocity dispersion is not neglected. The procedure shows moreover that initial Stokes phase f lips induce pump output with an extremely narrow spectral shape before comp lete depletion, related with Raman spikes of pump radiation. (C) 1999 Elsev ier Science B.V.