Simple guidelines to predict self-phase modulation patterns

We present a simple approach to predict the main features of optical spectra affected by self-phase modulation (SPM), which is based on regarding the spectral modification as an interference effect. A two-wave interference model is found sufficient to describe the SPM-broadened spectra of initially transform-limited or up-chirped pulses, whereas a third wave should be included in the model for initially down-chirped pulses. Simple analytical formulas are derived, which accurately predict the positions of the outermost peaks of the spectra. (C) 2018 Optical Society of America