Nonlinear Optics : Principles and Applications

This book describes the fundamental aspects of nonlinear optics from basic principles to applications. Starting from the polarization induced by an electric field in a material, it relates the induced polarization to the propagating fields. It describes the properties of the induced polarization through a material response expressed both in the time and frequency domains leading to the nonlinear wave equation. The second part of the book focuses on applications of nonlinear interaction between light and matter, and considers nonlinearities in crystals and optical fibers.

Explores the Fundamental Aspects of Nonlinear Optics

As nonlinear optics further develops as a field of research in electromagnetic wave propagation, its state-of-the-art technologies will continue to strongly impact real-world applications in a variety of fields useful to the practicing scientist and engineer. From basic principles to examples of applications, Nonlinear Optics: Principles and Applications effectively bridges physics and mathematics with relevant applied material for real-world use. The book progresses naturally from fundamental aspects to illustrative examples, and presents a strong theoretical foundation that equips the reader with enough knowledge to recognize, understand, and evaluate nonlinear optical phenomena.

Structured so that the first five chapters are dedicated to the description of the fundamental formalism of nonlinear optics, and the last five chapters are devoted to a description of practical devices based on nonlinear phenomena, it describes nonlinear wave propagation in bulk and in waveguiding structures, and includes specific examples of applied nonlinear wave propagation through crystals, optical waveguides, and optical fibers. Providing a theoretical description of nonlinear interaction between light and matter, this text focuses on the physical understanding of nonlinear optics, and explores optical material response functions in the time and frequency domain.

This pivotal work contains ten chapters and the main applications include:

• Optical signal processing: parametric amplification, modulators
• Transmission of optical signals: optical solitons, cross-phase modulation, four-wave mixing, phase conjugation, Raman scattering
• Sensing: temperature sensors, spectroscopy, and imaging
• Lasers: pulse compression and generation of super continuum

describes the fundamental aspects of nonlinear optics and serves as a reference for nonlinear optics professionals as well as graduate students specializing in nonlinear optics.