Full vectorial analysis of polarization effects in optical nanowires

TL;DR

This paper presents a comprehensive vectorial theoretical analysis of polarization effects in high index subwavelength optical nanowires, revealing anisotropic nonlinear behaviors and potential for optical switching applications.

Contribution

It introduces a full vectorial model for pulse propagation in nanowires, analyzing stability and solutions including solitons and switching states, advancing understanding of polarization dynamics.

Findings

Identification of anisotropic nonlinear polarization behavior

Discovery of stable and unstable steady state solutions

Potential for fast optical switches and logic gates

Abstract

We develop a full theoretical analysis of the nonlinear interactions of the two polarizations of a waveguide by means of a vectorial model of pulse propagation which applies to high index subwavelength waveguides. In such waveguides there is an anisotropy in the nonlinear behavior of the two polarizations that originates entirely from the waveguide structure, and leads to switching properties. We determine the stability properties of the steady state solutions by means of a Lagrangian formulation. We find all static solutions of the nonlinear system, including those that are periodic with respect to the optical fiber length as well as nonperiodic soliton solutions, and analyze these solutions by means of a Hamiltonian formulation. We discuss in particular the switching solutions which lie near the unstable steady states, since they lead to self-polarization flipping which can in principle be employed to construct fast optical switches and optical logic gates.