Linear and nonlinear pulse propagation in coupled resonator slow-wave optical structures

The linear and nonlinear characteristics of optical slow-wave structures made of direct coupled Fabry-Perot and Ring Resonators are discussed. The main properties of an infinitely long slow-wave structure are derived analytically with an approach based on the Bloch theory. The spectral behaviour is periodical and closed form expressions for the bandwidth, the group velocity, the dispersion and the linear and nonlinear induced phase shift are derived. For structures of finite length the results still hold providing that proper input/output matching sections are added. In slow-wave structures most of the propagation parameters are enhanced by a factor S called the slowing ratio. In particular nonlinearities result strongly enhanced by the resonant propagation, so that slow-wave structures are likely to become a key point for all-optical processing devices. A numerical simulator has been implemented and several numerical examples of propagation are discussed. It is also shown as soliton propagation is supported by slow-wave structures, demonstrating the flexibility and potentiality of these structures in the field of the all-optical processing.