Nonlinear optical devices

The aim of the proposed research is further advancing of analytical and simulation methods leading to the development of design tools for active nonlinear optical structures and devices for applications in communications, computing, signal processing and sensing. Novel theoretical approaches and models based on our long term experience with solving various light propagation and waveguiding problems including optical nonlinearities and optical gain will be further developed and applied. The objective is to design novel structures and devices with either newly implemented functionalities or significantly enhanced performances. The research will be focussed on a few concrete problems, namely the development of the analytical, simulation and design tool for a generic nonlinear switching/logic element with optical gain. Our original methods using a new solution to Maxwell's equations and the extrapolation property of linear prolate functions will be exploited. Higher-order nonlinearities of materials such as CdTe will be the focus of the research work. Nonlinear interactions involving external-field-assisted optical waves will be considered as means to establish efficient, well-controlled desired functionalities, for example all-optical switching, intelligent sensing or light amplification. The anticipated theoretical achievements will contribute new results to the already well established and well studied area of optical and electromagnetic issues of analysis, modeling and design of structures and devices. Expected applications of our approach are in the areas of modeling, simulations and design of photonic devices for optical communications, information processing, storage, computing, diagnostics and treatment in biomedicine, sensors, testing and measuring instrumentation. This could lead to significant innovation in the future.