Fiber Nonlinearities: Introduction and Effects

This lecture introduces the concept of nonlinear phenomena in fiber optics, discussing the importance and impact of different types of fiber nonlinearities such as Kerr effects, dispersion, solitons, and scattering effects. It explains how nonlinear effects arise when superposition does not apply and how light interacts in nonlinear optics. The lecture also covers the generation of new frequencies and the control of light with light through nonlinear effects in optical fibers, including the role of different orders of susceptibility. Additionally, it explores the relationship between linear refractive index, electric susceptibility, and power absorption coefficient in weakly absorbing media, as well as the characterization of nonlinear refractive index and its intensity dependence in optical fibers.