Abstract

Analysis of the nonlinear refractive index of optical fibers continues to draw considerable attention. There is an increasing emphasis on accuracy and precision of measurements, verification of tensor properties, and application of results to fiber and systems design. Without exception, experimental papers have presumed the nonlinearity to be electronic in origin, specifically precluding time-scale effects. However, electrostriction has recently been shown to be the source of long range soliton interactions.¹ In this work we show that electrostriction has a more general influence on the nonlinear optical response of fibers; in particular we show that electrostriction can contribute an additional 15% above the nonresonant electronic nonlinearity.

© 1996 Optical Society of America