Pulse propagation in an elliptically birefringent Kerr medium

Abstract

The coupled nonlinear Schrodinger equation, which describes optical propagation in a birefringent Kerr medium, is derived with particular emphasis on optical fibers. It is shown that, when the ellipticity angle theta approximately=35 degrees , Manakov's equation results. Consequences for switching applications are discussed. In particular, if theta not=35 degrees , shadows form when two pulses of opposite polarization interact, i.e. the emerging pulses no longer have their original polarizations. This problem disappears at theta =35 degrees .< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Identifiers

DOI

10.1109/3.40656

Citations and references