Abstract

It is widely recognized that the optical confinement provided by waveguides allows efficient use of optical nonlinearities. With high optical power densities maintained over macroscopic distances by a waveguide, optical nonlinear effects can be seen in materials with smaller nonlinearities and/or using lower optical power than would be possible in bulk material. Waveguide devices have the additional advantage of being compatible with optical fibers, and so may find a place in communications networks.

© 1989 Optical Society of America