Three-dimensional FDTD method for optical pulse propagation analysis in microstructured optical fibers

We propose a three-dimensional (3D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method to analyze the pulse propagation characteristics in microstructured optical fibers (MOFs). The computation domain size is greatly reduced by adopting the technique of moving problem space. The propagating pulse is virtually held in the buffer cell of the problem space as simulation continues. This method is capable to investigate the temporal evolution of the propagating pulse. Spectral information can be obtained by Fourier analysis. As an example, the influence of the kerr nonlinearity on the optical pulse propagation in a Lorentz dispersive MOF is demonstrated. The model is also used to simulate the nonlinear interactions between the pump spectral broadening and third harmonic generations in a highly nonlinear fused silica nanowire with good agreement with the generalized nonlinear envelop equation (GNEE) model. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.