OverviewTheory with Kerr nonlinearitySPM Frequency shiftApplications of SPMMitigation strategies in DWDM systemsSee also
Self-phase modulation (SPM) is a nonlinear optical effect of light–matter interaction. An ultrashort pulse of light, when travelling in a medium, will induce a varying refractive index of the medium due to the optical Kerr effect. This variation in refractive index will produce a phase shift in the pulse, leading to a change of the pulse''s frequency spectrum. Self-phase modulation is an important effect in optical systems that use short, intense pulses of light, su