Reflection and transmission spectra for ultrashort pulse propagation in a one-dimensional nonlinear photonic crystal

We probe the propagation of short electromagnetic pulses of finite bandwidth through a one-dimensional nonlinear photonic crystal. The theoretical scheme is tested in numerical simulations of the reflection and transmission spectra for a sample of recent experimental interest. The study is important for understanding of the nonlinear phase shifts and other active spectral modifications in photonic crystals, which have potential applications in all-optical signal processing. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America.