Experimental observation of the optical self-switching of unidirectional distributively coupled waves

Theoretical fundamentals of the phenomenon of optical self-switching of unidirectional distributively coupled waves (UDCW) with the linear coupling coefficient have been given in Ref. [1]. The present review deals with experimental examination of this striking phenomenon and pulse self-switching events along with the theory of UDCW self-switching in the case of a nonlinear coupling coefficient.