Propagation of cnoidal waves in a medium with a saturable nonlinear response

Propagation of periodic cnoidal waves in a medium with a saturable nonlinear response is investigated. The ranges of existence of soliton solutions are determined, and the specific features of such solutions are analysed within the limiting cases of strong and weak energy localisation in cnoidal waves. Optical multistability is discussed in the context of the existence of periodic solutions. The stability of cnoidal waves is studied numerically and analytically.