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Nonlinear optics is a field of study resulting from laser beam interactions with materials which started with the advent of lasers in the early 60 s. This field of study is maturing dramatically while playing a major role in newly emerging photonic technologies. Nonlinear optics has spawned the development of numerous optical devices that have become indispensable in our daily lives. This exciting field has played a major role in the development of optical applications such as optical signal processing, optical computers, ultrafast switches, ultra-short pulsed lasers, sensors, laser amplifiers, and many others. This special review volume on Nonlinear Optics and Applications is intended for those who want to become more aware of some of the most recent developments in photonics and to provide a glimpse of the role of nonlinear optics in modern photonic technologies. It is also important to note that the vast quantity of research in nonlinear optics, optical materials, and nonlinear optical devices in the last five years alone is enormous, the totality of which is well beyond the scope of a single volume. This fact along with other constraints, such as communication and time, has made our efforts toward fair and comprehensive discussion of the most representative of modern advances in this vast field extremely difficult, and no doubt futile. Consequently, we apologize in advance to those whose high quality and equally significant work has been unavoidably left out. We are hopeful that similar volumes will follow, and that this dialogue will continue to expand. In this book, we give a survey on the recent advances of nonlinear optical applications. Emphasis will be on novel devices and materials, switching technology, optical computing, and important experimental results. We also include the recent developments in topics which are of historical interest to many researchers, and, at the same time, of potential use in the fields of all-optical communication and computing technologies. In addition, we enclosed a few new and unconventional related topics which might provoke new thinking and discussion. This review volume is designed to be of interest to a broad range of research scientists, engineers, and graduate students engaged in multidiscipline research areas such as optics, material science, chemistry, physics, lasers, fibers, semiconductors, computer and electrical engineering. The book is organized as follows: Chapter 1 provides an introduction and update to nonlinear optics and applications particularly as related to organic p-electron materials and devices fabricated from such materials. This chapter provides insight into the fundamental concepts and guiding principles leading to improved materials and devices. Chapter 2 gives a brief review of the nonlinear Schrodinger and associated equations that model spatio-temporal propagation in one and higher dimensions in nonlinear dispersive media. Fast adaptive numerical techniques were used to solve these equations. A unique variational approach is also outlined that helps in determining the ranges of nonlinearity and dispersion parameters. Chapter 3 is an update of the supercontinuum light source by professor Alfano, who observed the phenomenon for the first time in 1970. The phase change induced by an intense ultrashort laser pulse propagating through a medium causes a frequency sweep within the pulse envelope, resulting in a well-defined temporal chirp. A look into the nonlinear mechanisms involved in producing such a system and its potential applications are presented. Chapter 4 demonstrates wideband ultrashort pulse fiber laser sources using optical fibers and ultrashort pulse fiber lasers and a wavelength tuning range from 0.78 to 2.0 mm. The generation process and characteristics have been analyzed both experimentally and numerically. Chapter 5 provides an overview of experimental demonstrations and theoretical understanding of lattice fabrication (including 1D lattices, 2D square lattices and ring lattices, and lattices with structured defects), as well as their linear and nonlinear light guiding properties. Discrete diffraction and self-trapping are demonstrated in a variety of settings, including fundamental discrete solitons, discrete vector solitons, discrete dipole solitons, discrete vortex solitons, and necklace-like solitons. In addition, the formation of 1D and 2D lattices with single-site negative defects, and linear bandgap guidance in these structures are demonstrated. Chapter 6 discusses the second-order EO (Pockels) effect, the third-order (Kerr) and thermo-optical effects in optical waveguides and their applications in optical communication. Chapter 7 presents a theoretical study and experimental data of beam combination using Stimulated Brillouin Scattering for improving upon beam quality in optical fibers. The study includes both coherent and incoherent combination as well as two-beam phasing using the unique polarization characteristics of stimulated Brillouin scattering. Chapter 8 demonstrates theoretical and experimental results of a double-functional interferometer, using holographic recording of a dynamic grating in CdTe:V crystal. The mechanisms involved were attributed to a slow electro-optical effect and a fast free-carrier grating. Chapter 9 represents the poling process of optical polymers to induce second and third order nonlinear optical effects. The chapter attributes the electro-optic effect in polymers to the presence of chromophore in the polymer matrix and explains the different approaches for incorporating the chromophore into the polymer matrix. This chapter also describes the different poling methods, and explains accompanying mechanisms. Chapter 10 treats the effects of a magnetic field on materials, and its role in nonlinear optics. The chapter presents a set of experimental results, which prompts reconsideration of the role of magnetization in optics and predictions of optical magnetic resonance, negative permeability, and magnetic birefringence at optical frequencies. Chapter 11 describes observations of Stokes and anti-Stokes emissions of gold nano-particles as a three step process involving single-photon or three-photon excitation of electron-hole pairs, relaxation of excited electrons and holes, and emission from electron-hole recombination. This chapter also presents quantitative analyses of the experimental data. Chapter 12 explores the use of linear optics and the reliance on detection to design a number of optical logic gates that perform operations in the complex domain of linear optics and are converted to Boolean operations by the act of detection. These logic gates have no energy cost and the bandwidth is strictly limited by the electronic modulation and demodulation rate and can be integrated on chips with the electronics. Chapter 13 presents an answer to the important question: Can the electric field of a light wave be assigned a definite polarity? In other words, can an optical field vector be more up than down? It also describes physical experiments and devices where this polar asymmetry is generated and detected and also connects the answer to the independently developed, Nobel Prize-winning technique of generating stabilized combs of mode-locked frequency components of light. Chapter 14 presents an excellent review of chalcopyrite materials and their potential as compact highly sensitive nonlinear optical sensors, of potential for many remote sensing devices. The chapter also touches on the integration of miniaturized photonic nonlinear bandgap structures, which enhances the nonlinearity and minimizes problems associated with walk-off effects, and outlines a theoretical analysis of nonlinear propagation in these structures. Chapter 15 presents the status of the ultimate device, the development of which can be achieved within the time-frame of this 21st century through photonic technologies: optical computing. This chapter lists the different components of which the optical computer might consist of and lists the most recent advances in their development to date, along with a substantial list of the recent literature on each component. The chapter concludes with a discussion of obstacles yet to be overcome to enable building of such a system.
