INESC TEC concludes project on optical beam dynamics in nonlinear structures

The Steering, developed together with the Faculty of Science of the University of Lisbon (leading institution), the University of Aveiro and the Institute of Telecommunications (IT) in Aveiro, reflects on the dynamics of optical beams in nonlinear structures, which depend on the resonance effects between light and matter.

INESC TEC developed two algorithms as part of the project. The first simulates scattering according to Schrödinger’s Equation and can be used to investigate the creation of a supercontinuum in optical fibers and in different schemes, including in CW pumping and different polarisation states. The other algorithm uses graphic processing units to reduce the computational time, besides being able to consider the appropriate boundary conditions and also problems dealing with up to three spatial dimensions. INESC TEC researchers Maria Inês Carvalho (CTM), Ariel Guerreiro (CAP), Paulo Macedo (CTM), Sílvia Rodrigues (CTM) and Nuno Silva (CAP) were involved in the project and as a result produced eight scientific papers, five of which were published in international journals and three at international conferences.

IT-Aveiro has conducted the experimental trials and the results obtained include an experimental configuration that makes it possible to produce Electromagnetically Induced Transparency in hollow core photonic crystal fibres filled with acetylene. INESC TEC contributed to this work by providing a model that describes the main features of the observed EIT effect.

The INESC TEC researchers mentioned in this article are associated with the following partner institutions: INESC Porto, FEUP and FCUP.