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

Journal of Applied Physics

Demonstration of optical bistability with a nonlinear prism coupler

Guy Vitrant, P. Arlot

Published May 15, 1987• 32 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A guided wave is launched through a nonlinear prism coupler whose prism-waveguide gap is filled with a liquid crystal. We observed that the intensity of the excited guided wave exhibits optical bistability when the incident intensity is modulated. This result, which is rather surprising when compared to recent theoretical predictions, is shown to arise from a thermal averaging process in the liquid crystal.

DOI
10.1063/1.338811

Related papers

Demonstration Of Optical Bistability By Resonant Excitation Of Nonlinear Guided Waves

Guy Vitrant, P. Arlot, R. Reinisch

A guided wave is launched through a nonlinear prism coupler whose prism-waveguide gap is filled with a liquid crystal. We observe that the intensity of the guided wave may exhibit optical bistability. Tests are realized which proove that the loops are true bistable cycles and not only hysteresis. The experimental results are in good agreement with plane-wave calculations. The disagreement with finite-width incident beam calculations is explained by a thermal averaging process within the liquid crystal.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Sep 22, 1987•2 citations

Observation of optical bistability by prism excitation of a nonlinear film-guided wave

Peter Dannberg, E. Broese

The prism excitation of a film waveguide with an optically nonlinear substrate consisting of the nematic liquid crystal MBBA has been investigated experimentally. We observed bistable behavior with respect to the incident optical power and the coupling angle as well.

Applied Optics•Apr 15, 1988•13 citations

Optical Bistability In Titanium-Diffused Lithium Niobate Optical Waveguides With Liquid Crystalline Nonlinear Prism Coupler

Tomasz R. Woliński, Mirosław A. Karpierz

Observation of the intrinsic optical bistability in a titanium-diffused lithium niobate optical waveguide with liquid crystalline nonlinear prism coupling is reported and a comparison with the optical bistable effect in a glass thin-film waveguide is also presented.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Mar 8, 1989•2 citations

Nonlinear Prism Coupler with Diffusion

Guy Vitrant, R. Reinisch, Jean-Claude Paumier +2 more

The salient question which arises when light is coupled via a grating or a prism into a waveguide exhibiting an intensity-dependent refractive index is whether switching occurs with or without bistability under appropriate detuning conditions. There are two prevailing theories. In the first1, a plane wave input is assumed leading to a uniform optically induced index change in the coupling region. In the second2, a finite width incident beam is assumed and the growth of the guided field under the coupler leads to an index change proportional to the local guided wave intensity. The first approach leads to optical bistability under certain detuning conditions, whereas the second results in switching only. Although it is known that plane wave analyses are inadequate when dealing with linear-nonlinear interfaces, bistability has been observed experimentally with nonlinear prism couplers3. Fundamentally the finite beam theoretical approaches are unable to predict bistability because no longitudinal feedback is included. Recently we showed that when non-locality is introduced into the optically induced refractive index change, longitudinal feedback occurs and bistability is predicted for the growing mode case4. However, the model used for the non-locality was artificial and resulted only in qualitative predictions. In this paper the nonlocality is modelled by the same equation used to describe heat transfer and carrier diffusion, leading to a quantitative estimate of the minimum diffusion length required for bistability.

Nonlinear Guided Waves and Their Applications•Jan 1, 1989•0 citations

Bistable optical behavior of a nonlinear attenuated total reflection device: Resonant excitation of nonlinear guided modes

R. Reinisch, P. Arlot, Guy Vitrant +1 more

We study the prism excitation of a nonlinear waveguide. The nonlinear medium is the substrate which exhibits Kerr effect. Our results show that such a device experiences optical bistability. We also show that there exists a close link between optical bistability and resonant excitation of nonlinear guided modes propagating along this nonlinear waveguide.

Applied Physics Letters•Dec 15, 1985•25 citations

Nonlinear Prism Coupler: Approximate Theory and Comparison With Rigorous Analysis

Sergey A. Darmanyan, E. Popov, M. Nevière

A prism coupler filled with nonlinear Kerr-like material is studied theoretically. A simple, approximate analysis is developed to predict its behavior in both linear and nonlinear optics. In a wide range of incident amplitude magnitude, optical bistability and multistability are found. As far as field map not undergo drastic change, the simpler approximate theory is able to quantitatively analyze both prism couplers and waveguide in nonlinear optics and to study such effects as nonlinear phase shift, existence of nonlinear asymmetric modes in symmetric environments, bi-and multistability. The predictions of the analytical theory are compared with the results obtained via numerical integration of Maxwell equations and they agree quite well.

Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications•Jan 1, 2000•2 citations
A guided wave is launched through a nonlinear prism coupler whose prism-waveguide gap is filled with a liquid crystal. We observed that the intensity of the excited guided wave exhibits optical bistability when the incident intensity is modulated. This result, which is rather surprising when compared to recent theoretical predictions, is shown to arise from a thermal averaging process in the liquid crystal.
A guided wave is launched through a nonlinear prism coupler whose prism-waveguide gap is filled with a liquid crystal. We observe that the intensity of the guided wave may exhibit optical bistability. Tests are realized which proove that the loops are true bistable cycles and not only hysteresis. The experimental results are in good agreement with plane-wave calculations. The disagreement with finite-width incident beam calculations is explained by a thermal averaging process within the liquid crystal.
The salient question which arises when light is coupled via a grating or a prism into a waveguide exhibiting an intensity-dependent refractive index is whether switching occurs with or without bistability under appropriate detuning conditions. There are two prevailing theories. In the first1, a plane wave input is assumed leading to a uniform optically induced index change in the coupling region. In the second2, a finite width incident beam is assumed and the growth of the guided field under the coupler leads to an index change proportional to the local guided wave intensity. The first approach leads to optical bistability under certain detuning conditions, whereas the second results in switching only. Although it is known that plane wave analyses are inadequate when dealing with linear-nonlinear interfaces, bistability has been observed experimentally with nonlinear prism couplers3. Fundamentally the finite beam theoretical approaches are unable to predict bistability because no longitudinal feedback is included. Recently we showed that when non-locality is introduced into the optically induced refractive index change, longitudinal feedback occurs and bistability is predicted for the growing mode case4. However, the model used for the non-locality was artificial and resulted only in qualitative predictions. In this paper the nonlocality is modelled by the same equation used to describe heat transfer and carrier diffusion, leading to a quantitative estimate of the minimum diffusion length required for bistability.
A prism coupler filled with nonlinear Kerr-like material is studied theoretically. A simple, approximate analysis is developed to predict its behavior in both linear and nonlinear optics. In a wide range of incident amplitude magnitude, optical bistability and multistability are found. As far as field map not undergo drastic change, the simpler approximate theory is able to quantitatively analyze both prism couplers and waveguide in nonlinear optics and to study such effects as nonlinear phase shift, existence of nonlinear asymmetric modes in symmetric environments, bi-and multistability. The predictions of the analytical theory are compared with the results obtained via numerical integration of Maxwell equations and they agree quite well.