We report the first experimental demonstration of the optical pushbroo
m-a novel type of all-optical pulse compression. In the optical pushbr
oom high intensity pump pulses, tuned well away from the resonance of
a Bragg grating, modify the transmission of a weak probe tuned near to
the grating's photonic band gap. The clarity of the experimental resu
lts and their close agreement with numerical simulations highlight the
tremendous potential of the fiber environment for the detailed study
and practical application of nonlinear Bragg grating effects.