Nonlinear optics with gas-filled fibres

Filling hollow-core fibres with materials for nonlinear optics goes back over 50 years - almost since the birth of nonlinear optics itself. Since then there have been three key developments: (i) the use of simple capillaries for high intensity pulse compressors at the output of ultrafast amplifier systems and for several other nonlinear effects; (ii) the development of micro-structured hollow-core fibre for improved control over the dispersion and losses of a hollow-waveguide, but mainly with a focus on telecoms and low-nonlinearity; (iii) the advent of high-intensity ultrafast nonlinear dynamics, and in particular soliton dynamics, in gas-filled micro-structured fibres. In this seminar I will review these developments, with a particular focus on my work on pulse-compression, supercontinuum formation, VUV light generation and molecular modulation. I will then preview some of my ideas on the future of this field.