Afshar Vahid, S.Monro, T.2009-10-212009-10-212009Optics Express, 2009; 17(14):2298-23181094-40871094-4087http://hdl.handle.net/2440/51259The propagation of pulses through waveguides with sub-wavelength features, inhomogeneous transverse structure, and high index contrast cannot be described accurately using existing models in the presence of nonlinear effects. Here we report the development of a generalised full vectorial model of nonlinear pulse propagation and demonstrate that, unlike the standard pulse propagation formulation, the z-component of guided modes plays a key role for these new structures, and results in generalised definitions of the nonlinear coefficient gamma, Aeff , and mode orthognality. While new definitions reduce to standard definitions in some limits, significant differences are predicted, including a factor of approximately 2 higher value for gamma, for emerging waveguides and microstructured fibers.en© 2009 Optical Society of AmericaKerr effectNonlinear opticsMicrostructured fibersJournal article002009020010.1364/OE.17.0022980002634325000242-s2.0-6054911670239291