The nonlinear directional coupler. An analytic solution

Linear and nonlinear directional couplers are currently used in fiber optics communications. They may also play a role in multiphoton approaches to quantum information processing if accurate control is obtained over the phases and polarizations of the signals at the output of the coupler. With this motivation, the constants of motion of the coupler equation are used to obtain an explicit analytical solution for the nonlinear coupler.