Finite element characterization of chromatic dispersion in nonlinear holey fibers

Chromatic dispersion characteristics of nonlinear photonic crystal fibers are, for the first time to our knowledge, theoretically investigated. A self-consistent numerical approach based on the full-vector finite-element method in terms of all the components of electric fields is described for the steady-state analysis of axially-nonsymmetrical nonlinear optical fibers. Electric fields obtained with this approach can be directly utilized for evaluating nonlinear refractive index distributions. To eliminate nonphysical, spurious solutions and to accurately model curved boundaries of circular air holes, curvilinear hybrid edge/nodal elements are introduced. It is found from the numerical results that under high optical intensity, chromatic dispersion characteristics become different from those of the linear state due to optical Kerr-effect nonlinearity, especially in short wavelength region. (C) 2003 Optical Society of America.