| Nonlinear Photonics has attracted a great deal of interest in recent years due to its potential applications. Typically, the second-order nonlinear effect has been utilized in electro-optic applications or second harmonic generation. The third-order effect has been mostly exploited for optical bi-stability or all-optical processing, while less attention has been paid to higher orders due to their weak values. The third-order nonlinear medium, however, exhibits a property of being able to support all-optical and electro-optic effects simultaneously. Such a mutual co-existence of the two effects has not been studied systematically. In this thesis, both the all-optical and the electro-optic effects are considered to contribute to the overall functionality. Several interesting structures of Kerr third-order nonlinear media, subjected to an external electrostatic field and having intensive propagating light, are studied and discussed.;Finally, it is essential to note that, since the off-resonant nonlinear response of many optical media well below the saturation point is Kerr-like, the presented results are applicable to a wide variety of photonic materials. The material such as silicon that does not possess the linear electro-optic effect seems especially attractive for discussed applications because of its inherent technological processing compatibility with microelectronics.;First, light wave propagation in third-order nonlinear media with applied external electrostatic field is investigated. It is found that a novel electrically controlled cross-polarized wave conversion is achieved. Second, an electrically-controlled multi-stable switch, based on a Fabry-Perot resonator, is proposed and analyzed. An interesting feature of storing electrical information optically is revealed. Third, by proposing an inhomogeneous electric field to mediate their dispersion characteristics, it is shown that the parameters of nonlinear periodic structures are efficiently electronically controlled. Fourth, an ultrashort pulse, transmitted through a silicon waveguide and subjected to an external electrostatic field, is studied. It is shown that the pulse shape and polarization evolution can be efficiently controlled by adjusting the magnitude of the applied external field. Fifth, it is shown that the photorefractive effect is realizable in doped silicon waveguides, provided a proper external electrostatic field bias is applied. A photorefractive silicon-based ring oscillator is then proposed, analyzed, and discussed. |
