Abstract

We show that novel solitons have properties particularly advantageous for optical information processing. Unlike the familiar solitons of the nonlinear Schrodinger (NLS) equation, we find that new solitons may be formed in both the normal and anomalous dispersion regions. This feature makes possible soliton behavior in a host of new materials including semiconductor multiple quantum-well, semiconductor-in-glass, or silica waveguides. In addition, these solitons maybe propagated by low-intensity lasers, such as semiconductor lasers. These new features can extend the usefulness of soliton behavior to optoelectronic or photonic integrated circuits. In particular, these solitons may be used for all-optical switching or optical computing.

© 1990 Optical Society of America