• Spatial solitons extend depth of focus

    Researchers at the Italian National Institute of Materials Physics and the University of Insubrio (both in Como, Italy) have shown how the second-order nonlinearity in some crystals can be exploited to extend the beam waist of a focused image based on formation of spatial solitons.
    Jan. 1, 2002

    Researchers at the Italian National Institute of Materials Physics and the University of Insubrio (both in Como, Italy) have shown how the second-order nonlinearity in some crystals can be exploited to extend the beam waist of a focused image based on formation of spatial solitons.1 So far, depth of focus has been increased 3.6 times, and experiments have begun to reveal some of the differences between single- and multiple-soliton propagation. This kind of technique could eventually be exploited in devices for all-optical processing. Such devices are particularly needed in the field of communications, in which engineers are trying to find their way around the bottleneck of photonic-electronic interfaces.

    About the Author

    Sunny Bains

    Contributing Editor

    Sunny Bains is a contributing editor for Laser Focus World and a technical journalist based in London, England.

    Sign up for Laser Focus World Newsletters
    Get the latest news and updates.

    Voice Your Opinion!

    To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Laser Focus World, create an account today!