Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Soviet Journal of Quantum Electronics

Excitation of nonlinear surface electromagnetic waves and optical bistability in experiments on a planar liquid crystal system

Sergei M. Arakelyan, Garnik L. Grigoryan, L. M. Kocharyan, S. Ts. Nersisyan, Yu. S. Chilingaryan

Published Dec 31, 1987• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A study was made of resonant excitation of surface plasmons at an interface between a metal and a nematic liquid crystal under conditions of self-interaction of light. The experiments yielded optically bistable characteristics of the intensity of the radiation transmitted by the system in the field of low-power cw laser radiation.
DOI
10.1070/qe1987v017n12abeh011316

Related papers

Optical Bistability Associated with Surface Plasmon Polariton Excitation

Toshihiro Okamoto, Masanobu Haraguchi, Masuo Fukui

We have theoretically analysed the optical bistability due to the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons (SP's) in samples, prism/metal film/nonlinear optic medium and prism/gap material/metal film/non-linear optic medium, where the non-linear optic medium has an intensity-dependent refractive index. We considered two cases, i.e. non-linearity along the propagation direction of SP's and along the normal to the interface. In the former case, the critical input power for the optical bistability was too high to allow experimental observation, while it was reasonably low for the latter case.

Journal of the Physical Society of Japan•May 15, 1992•2 citations

Optical bistability, multistability, and instabilities in liquid crystals

Sergei M. Arakelyan

The physical aspects of the manifestation of optical bistability, instabilities, and stochasticity in strongly nonlinear media in the form of liquid crystals subjected to laser radiation fields are discussed. The stress is on experimental research. Optical bistability and multistability are considered for a number of light-induced effects in homogeneous and inhomogeneous liquid crystals. The special features of these effects in liquids crystals, associated with the field-induced structural phase transitions, are stressed and the concept of intrinsic (mirrorless) optical bistability is introduced. General nonlinear systems with optical bistability are considered. An analysis is made of instabilities and stochasticity manifested in experiments on light-induced reorientation of liquid crystals in the presence of fields of different origin, giving rise to oscillatory and chaotic processes in the case of self-modulation of the transmitted light.

Soviet Physics Uspekhi•Dec 31, 1987•8 citations

Optical Bistability with Surface Plasmons beyond Plane Waves in Nonlinear Dielectric

G. S. Agarwal, Subhasish Dutta Gupta

Wysin et al1 suggested that the local field enhancement near a metal surface which occurs if surface plasmons are excited in a metal film, can be useful for observing optical bistability arising from the nonlinearity of the Kerr medium. Other geometrical arrangements2 have also been suggested. These studies assume plane waves in the nonlinear medium and use the Fresnel formulae for reflection and refraction from a layered medium but with linear refractive index replaced by the nonlinear refractive index. This assumes that the fields in the medium are homogeneous. However if surface plasmons are excited, then the fields are inhomogeneous and one has the problem of reflection and refraction from an inhomogeneous layered medium. The inhomogeneity is to be determined self consistently. Thus a proper treatment of optical bistability with surface plasmons should use the nonlinear solutions of the wave equation in Kerr medium. This is what we do in this paper.

Topical Meeting on Optical Bistability (OB)•Jan 1, 1985•0 citations

Optical bistability from surface plasmon excitation through a nonlinear medium

P. Martinot, S. Laval, A. Köster

The excitation of surface plasmon by attenuated total reflection can be used to get a bistable optical device. As the incident light beam propagates through a nonlinear medium, any intensity variation tunes the plasmon excitation through resonance. Furthermore, the superposition of the incident and reflected beams induces a feedback and allows bistable operation.

Journal de physique•Jan 1, 1984•33 citations

Low-power and broadband optical bistability by excitation of surface plasmons in doped polymer film

Zhanxiang Zhang, Hui‐Tian Wang, Peixian Ye +2 more

The low-power and broadband optical bistability in an acceptor-donor-substituted azobenzene-doped polymethyl methacrylate thin film, which relies on the excitation of surface plasmons with a cw laser of several tens of milliwatt power, is studied experimentally and theoretically. The observations on the characteristics of the bistability are essentially consistent with the theoretical predictions.

Applied Optics•Aug 20, 1993•10 citations

Optical bistability of surface plasmon polaritons in nonlinear Kretschmann configuration

Chao Wu, Gang Yong Song, Huili Liu +3 more

Optical bistability based on surface plasmon polaritons in the Kretschmann configuration involving a Kerr nonlinear medium is described by analytical solutions. The conditions of forming the optical bistability with different parameters are explored. The resonant angle of surface plasmon polaritons varying with the incident light intensity also generates the phenomenon of bistability. The system could form optical bistability with the special thickness of the metal film and incident angle. This kind of system has potential application in all-optical networks.

Journal of Modern Optics•Feb 1, 2013•17 citations
We have theoretically analysed the optical bistability due to the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons (SP's) in samples, prism/metal film/nonlinear optic medium and prism/gap material/metal film/non-linear optic medium, where the non-linear optic medium has an intensity-dependent refractive index. We considered two cases, i.e. non-linearity along the propagation direction of SP's and along the normal to the interface. In the former case, the critical input power for the optical bistability was too high to allow experimental observation, while it was reasonably low for the latter case.
The physical aspects of the manifestation of optical bistability, instabilities, and stochasticity in strongly nonlinear media in the form of liquid crystals subjected to laser radiation fields are discussed. The stress is on experimental research. Optical bistability and multistability are considered for a number of light-induced effects in homogeneous and inhomogeneous liquid crystals. The special features of these effects in liquids crystals, associated with the field-induced structural phase transitions, are stressed and the concept of intrinsic (mirrorless) optical bistability is introduced. General nonlinear systems with optical bistability are considered. An analysis is made of instabilities and stochasticity manifested in experiments on light-induced reorientation of liquid crystals in the presence of fields of different origin, giving rise to oscillatory and chaotic processes in the case of self-modulation of the transmitted light.
Wysin et al1 suggested that the local field enhancement near a metal surface which occurs if surface plasmons are excited in a metal film, can be useful for observing optical bistability arising from the nonlinearity of the Kerr medium. Other geometrical arrangements2 have also been suggested. These studies assume plane waves in the nonlinear medium and use the Fresnel formulae for reflection and refraction from a layered medium but with linear refractive index replaced by the nonlinear refractive index. This assumes that the fields in the medium are homogeneous. However if surface plasmons are excited, then the fields are inhomogeneous and one has the problem of reflection and refraction from an inhomogeneous layered medium. The inhomogeneity is to be determined self consistently. Thus a proper treatment of optical bistability with surface plasmons should use the nonlinear solutions of the wave equation in Kerr medium. This is what we do in this paper.
Optical bistability based on surface plasmon polaritons in the Kretschmann configuration involving a Kerr nonlinear medium is described by analytical solutions. The conditions of forming the optical bistability with different parameters are explored. The resonant angle of surface plasmon polaritons varying with the incident light intensity also generates the phenomenon of bistability. The system could form optical bistability with the special thickness of the metal film and incident angle. This kind of system has potential application in all-optical networks.