Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026

Fabrication And Characterization Of Photonic Crystal Slow Light Waveguides And Cavities
Published on: November 30, 2012
Simple method to characterize nonlinear refraction and loss in optical waveguides
Jeremiah J Wathen1, Vincent R Pagán, Thomas E Murphy
1Laboratory for Physical Sciences, College Park, Maryland 20740, USA. wathenjj@lps.umd.edu
Abstract:
We describe a technique for accurately measuring the ratio between the imaginary and real parts of the third-order nonlinearity in optical waveguides. Unlike most other methods, it does not depend on precise knowledge of the coupling efficiencies, optical propagation loss, or optical pulse shape. We apply the method to characterize a silicon waveguide, a GaAs waveguide, and AlGaAs waveguides with different alloy concentrations.
Related Concept Videos
Lossless Lines
Traveling Waves: Lossless Lines
Propagation of Waves
Consider a scenario where a wave propagates from a string of low linear mass density to a string of high linear mass density. In such a case, the reflected wave is out of phase with respect to the incident wave, however the...
Boundary Conditions: Lossless Lines
At the receiving end, the boundary condition states that the voltage equals the product of the receiving-end impedance and current. This relationship is expressed as a function of the incident and...
Major Losses in Pipes
Fluid flow can be classified as laminar or turbulent, primarily based on the Reynolds number. This dimensionless number reflects the relative influence of inertial to viscous...
Lossy Lines and Overvoltages
Attenuation
When constant series resistance and shunt conductance are present, voltage and current equations are modified. The propagation constant indicates that voltage and current waves consist of both forward and backward traveling components. These waves attenuate as they propagate, with the attenuation factor related to the resistance and conductance. In a...

