Nonlinear properties of photonic crystal fibers

Photonic crystal fibers are a new class of single-material optical fibers with wavelength-scale air holes running down the entire length. The manufacture, principle of operation, basic properties and applications of photonic crystal fibers are briefly described. A detailed review of nonlinear effects in photonic crystal fibers is presented, with emphasis on supercontinuum generation, the soliton effect and frequency conversion, as well as the possible applications of these effects.