Nonlinear optical studies of periodic dielectric structures have blossomed in the past two decades. New fabrication techniques are producing fiber grating and multidimensional photonic crystals in materials where the refractive index can be varied by light pulses and beams. Gap solitons that can propagate at any velocity from zero to the speed of light and spatial solitons that prevent the diffractive spread of light in waveguide arrays are two examples of the new phenomena described in this book. Microstructured optical fibers allow control of the guided mode dispersion for broadband light generation and new soliton phenomena. Many new materials and structures are being developed that will impact new optical devices with applications in optical communications and optical data processing. All the above topics are addressed in detail in this book.
From the reviews: MATERIALS TODAY "Slusher and Eggleton have persuaded the world's leading experts to contribute significant original articles and chapters to this book. Among the interesting effects represented here are soliton-like pulse propagation; polarization instability; gap solitons, particularly as driven by Raman-type nonlinearities; slow light; and self-induced transparency ... This volume is an excellent accomplishment, brining together many authors in a common and consistent theme in a rapidly developing field." "The book provides an overview of mostly one-dimensional nonlinear photonic crystals ... . It has a good index and numerous references to earlier work in the field of nonlinear photonic crystals. ... I recommend the book particularly to postgraduates who seek a well referenced and structured overview of this subject, as well as to specialists in the field of photonic crystals who want to expand their research in nonlinear directions." (Alexander Moroz, OPN - Optics & Photonics News, April, 2005) "In the world of linear photonic crystals, significant breakthroughs are currently being made ... . Hence, a need for specialization, as in this well-edited collection, Nonlinear Photonic Crystals, which ponders the nonlinear optical properties of photonic crystals. ... Slushers and Eggleton have persuaded the world's leading experts to contribute significant original articles and chapters to this book. ... This volume is an excellent accomplishment, bringing together many authors in a common and consistent theme in a rapidly developing new field." (Eli Yablonovitch, Materials Today, March, 2004)