Zheltikova, D. A.Scalora, M.Zheltikov, A. M.Bloemer, M. J.Shneider, M. N.D’Aguanno, G.Miles, R. B.2020-06-022020-06-022004-03-12D. A. Zheltikova et al., Switching intense laser pulses guided by Kerr-effect-modified modes of a hollow-core photonic-crystal fiber, Phys. Rev. E, Vol. 71, Iss. 2 (2005), https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.71.026609https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.71.026609http://hdl.handle.net/11603/18800A Kerr-nonlinearity-induced profile of the refractive index in the hollow core of a photonic-crystal fiber (PCF) changes the spectrum of propagation constants of air-guided modes, effectively shifting the passbands in fiber transmission, controlled by the photonic band gaps (PBGs) of the cladding. This effect is shown to allow the creation of fiber switches for high-intensity laser pulses. The Kerr-nonlinearity control of air-guided modes in PCFs and the performance of a PCF switch are quantified by solving the propagation equation for the slowly varying envelope of a laser pulse guided in Kerr-effect-modified PCF modes. The spatial dynamics of the light field in a PBG waveguide switch is analyzed with the use of the slowly varying envelope approximation, demonstrating high contrasts of optical switching with PBG waveguides and hollow PCFs.7 pagesen-USThis item is likely protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Unless on a Creative Commons license, for uses protected by Copyright Law, contact the copyright holder or the author.Public Domain Mark 1.0This work was written as part of one of the author's official duties as an Employee of the United States Government and is therefore a work of the United States Government. In accordance with 17 U.S.C. 105, no copyright protection is available for such works under U.S. Law.Text