Are optical rogue waves giant solitons?

This contribution demonstrates experimentally and numerically the occurrence of optical rogue waves with continuous wave (CW) pumps. The generalized nonlinear Schrodinger (GNLSE) equation, which governs the propagation of light in the fiber, is demonstrated to exhibit convective instability. The latter provides one of the main explanations of the optical rogue wave extreme sensitivity to noisy initial conditions. Moreover, evidence that optical rogue waves result from soliton collisions leading to the rapid appearance/disappearance of a powerful optical pulse is provided. These rare events originate from convective instabilities and that there rapid appearance/disappearance results from the collision of solitons. Hence, optical rogue waves are not proper giant solitons but result from solitons interactions.