Nonlinear directional coupler in periodically poled lithium niobate.

Nonlinear wave propagation was investigated experimentally in coupled waveguides by means of the cascaded nonlinearity in quasi-phase-matched second-harmonic generation. With a specially designed wave-vector-mismatch distribution along the propagation axis, cascading was optimized for low fundamental depletion. High-contrast, ultrafast all-optical switching with switching powers of tens of watts was observed.