Simulation of strong nonlinear effects in optical waveguides

Abstract

Nonlinear optical channel waveguides are modeled. It is demonstrated that a saturable nonlinear permittivity model is essential mathematically when strong nonlinear effects are simulated, so that the nonlinear wave equation possesses realistic solutions. Several precautionary factors in the numerical simulation of self-focusing behavior are addressed. For example, care must be exercised when the threshold power is calculated for some nonlinear structure exhibiting an abrupt all-optical switching phenomenon.