"In this work, we make a detailed analysis of the influence of Kerr and Raman interactions on the evolution of optical pulses by taking into account their symmetry rules, evolution of the polarization state, composition and frequency-shift dependence. Also, we propose the use of the combined action of the Kerr and Raman effects for the implementation of switching devices in a NOLM where the Raman effect plays a dominant role. In chapter 2 we derive the coupled amplitude equations by assuming optical waves of arbitrary polarization and frequency, taking into account the difference in the symmetry rules followed by the Kerr and Raman nonlinear effects. In chapter 3 we particularize the coupled amplitude