Nonlinear effects in optical fibres and fibre devices

We review experimental and theoretical work on the effects of the Kerr nonlinearity in optical fibres. The nonlinear Schr¿¿dinger equation is introduced and its solutions are discussed. The effects of perturbations both to the initial pulse and to the equation demonstrate the stability of solitons. Applications of this work include pulse compression and the soliton laser. Finally we discuss recent work on the modification of the linear guiding properties at high intensities.