Nonlinear Phenomena in Optical Fibers.

Nonlinear optical phenomena in optical fibers, such as intensity- dependent refractive indices (the Kerr effect), and various types of optically-induced optical gain (the Raman and Brillouin effects), provide both opportunities and problems for fiber communications systems. This paper is a brief overview of some of the ways that these phenomena have been exploited to date - primarily for measurements and for research and development, how they can be exploited to improve future systems, and how they may limit the capabilities of future systems.