Nonlinear switching in multicore versus multimode waveguide junctions for mode-locked laser applications

The main differences in nonlinear switching behavior between multicore versus multimode waveguide couplers are highlighted. By gradually decreasing the separation between the two cores of a dual-core waveguide and interpolating from a multicore to a multimode scenario, the role of the linear coupling, self-phase modulation, cross-phase modulation, and four-wave mixing terms are explored, and the key reasons are identified behind higher switching power requirements and lower switching quality in multimode nonlinear couplers. (C) 2013 Optical Society of America