The invention relates to an optical device. The optical device comprises a waveguide core and a nanocomposite material optically coupled to the waveguide core. The nanocomposite material includes a plurality of quantum dots. The nanocomposite material has a nonlinear index of refraction that is at least 10^-9 cm²/W when irradiated with an activation light having a wavelength between approximately 310^-5 cm and 210^-4 cm.