title: Temporal soliton switching in a rectangular nonlinear directional coupler.
abstract: We address the theory of temporal soliton switching in a planar geometry directional coupler constructed from silica and doped silica glass and operating at the central wavelength of 1.55 microm, significant for erbium-doped amplification. We formulate the field in the coupler in terms of the supermodes of the total structure and take account of the two transverse dimensions of the rectangular channels. In the case of the weak coupling between channels consistent with elimination of pulse breakup, the effect of the fields in the outer corner regions of the channels results in a switching intensity that differs significantly from that derived from coupled-mode theory on the basis of a slab model of the coupler.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio 43606, USA.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Sala
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Bagley
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Deck