Kerr Nonlinearity

Kerr nonlinearity is a phenomenon in certain materials where their refractive index—the property that controls how light bends—changes depending on the light’s intensity. When intense light passes through such a material, it causes the material to become temporarily more or less resistant to light, effectively altering its optical properties. This effect enables behaviors like self-focusing or the formation of solitons (stable light pulses). It is fundamental in various advanced technologies, including high-speed optical communication and laser systems, by allowing the control and manipulation of light using light itself without physical changes to the medium.