Nonlinear optical media in photonic crystal waveguides: Intrinsic localized modes and device applications

A review is given of some of the properties of photonic crystal waveguides containing or interacting with nonlinear optical media including discussions of potential device applications. An introduction is given to photonic crystals, photonic crystal waveguide technologies, the properties of Kerr nonlinear dielectric media, the properties of new types of excitations in these systems known as intrinsic localized modes, and optical bistability. Device designs for switches, waveguide couplers, interferometers, transistors, photonic crystal receivers and transmitters, and photonic crystal sensors are reviewed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 12: 18–32, 2007