Nonlinear interactions of optical pulses in slow-mode nanowires

Slow-mode micro-structured waveguides enable a large enhancement of optical nonlinearities. Using a generalization of the local field factor theory of nonlinear homogeneous media, we review the impact of the group velocity reduction on the hierarchy of the semi-conductor nonlinearities. As an illustration, we experimentally and theoretically reported an intrinsic limitation concerning the Raman amplification of short pulses in silicon nanowires through the self-phase modulation induced by both the optical Kerr effect and free-carrier refraction. Hence, we provide a fundamental insight on the nonlinear interaction of short pulses for the design of future slow-mode devices.