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

Physical Review A

Optical bistability in molecular systems exhibiting nonlinear absorption

Meir Orenstein, Jacob Katriel, Shammai Speiser

Published Mar 1, 1987• 15 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The recently developed nonlinear complex eikonal approximation, which was previously employed to study dispersively nonlinear resonators, is applied to absorptively nonlinear resonator configurations. Conditions for obtaining optical bistability in molecular absorbers are derived and the photophysical consequences are discussed.
DOI
10.1103/physreva.35.2175

Related papers

Nonlinear complex eikonal approximation: Optical bistability in absorbing media

Meir Orenstein, Jacob Katriel, Shammai Speiser

A recently developed nonlinear complex eikonal approximation which was previously employed to the study of dispersively nonlinear resonators is applied to absorptively nonlinear resonator configurations. The nonlinear absorption is introduced phenomenologically, encompassing a large variety of intensity-dependent absorption mechanisms. Conditions for obtaining optical bistability are derived. Dynamically increasing absorption was not considered, and optical bistability in free propagation was not obtained.

Physical Review A•Feb 1, 1987•6 citations

Application Of The Nonlinear Eikonal Treatment To The Design Of Optical Bistable Devices.

Meir Orenstein, Jacob Katriel, Shammai Speiser

A recently presented eikonal treatment of nonlinear resonators and coupled resonators is generalized to enable the treatment of absorptive as well as dispersive optical bistability. The behavior of molecular media, incorporated in various types of resonators is emphasized.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Jan 8, 1987•1 citation

A general eikonal treatment of coupled dispersively nonlinear resonators exhibiting optical multistability

Meir Orenstein, Shammai Speiser, Jacob Katriel

A recently presented eikonal treatment of nonlinear resonators is reformulated so as to enable a straightforward generalization to coupled resonators. A few coupled dispersively nonlinear resonator configurations are presented and analyzed. They exhibit novel types of multistability.

IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics•Sep 1, 1985•11 citations

Optical Bistability And Spatial Light Modulation By Molecular Systems

Shammai Speiser

A novel spatial light modulator (SLM) based on nonlinear absorption of light by excited molecules is suggested. A kinetic analysis is applied to calculate the relative populations of molecular levels in singlet and triplet manifolds. It is shown that for many actual cases a probe light can be modulated by propagating through a medium excited by another light source. The dependence of the molecular SLM on the photophysical parameters of the SLM medium is discussed. The same type of molecular nonlinearities can be utilized for optical bistability, as is demonstrated for some dyes.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Dec 22, 1989•0 citations

Propagation methods for the analysis of bistable devices and spatial light modulators based on nonlinear molecular media

Shammai Speiser, David Groswasser, Meir Orenstein

We already discussed the bistable behavior of a Fabry Perot resonator filled with molecular media as well as the characteristics of a spatial light modulator (SLM) based on the nonlinearity induced by excited state absorption. In the present paper we present two practical configurations. First we analyze a cavity-less bistable element which removes some of the realization problems related to high finess cavity. In this configuration the nonlinear medium is located in one arm of an optical interferometer. The scheme provides the required amount of positive feedback by the bistable mechanism -- but without a cavity. We applied the nonlinear eikonal approximation, a method which takes care of the detailed propagation effects, and obtained conditions for bistability, as well as optimizing the design parameters such as the output mirror reflectivity, etc.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Nov 25, 1993•0 citations

Resonant nonlinear optical processes in lower-dimensional electronic systems

Jeong Weon Wu

Optical bistability is a quantum optical realization of a first order phase transition far from equilibrium. A nonlinear optical material contained in an optical cavity driven resonantly by an external coherent optical field undergoes a first order phase transition to a new nonequilibrium stationary state of broken symmetry. Resonant and nonresonant nonlinear optical response of $\\pi$-electron excitations in conjugated electronic structure provides the nonlinearity essential to the onset of bistability. Electronic correlation effects in reduced dimensions are responsible for nonresonant nonlinear optical responses. Saturable absorption studies of glassy polymer films consisting of quasi-two dimensional conjugated disc-like structure of silicon naphthalocyanine demonstrate that on-resonance the system behaves as an optical Bloch system with an intensity dependent refractive index of 1 $\\times$ 10$\\sp{-4}$ cm$\\sp2$/kW. Based on the results of these studies, electronic absorptive optical bistability is observed on a nanosecond time scale in a nonlinear Fabry-Perot interferometer employing the saturable absorbing silicon naphthalocyanine film as the nonlinear optical medium.

•Jan 1, 1989•0 citations
A recently developed nonlinear complex eikonal approximation which was previously employed to the study of dispersively nonlinear resonators is applied to absorptively nonlinear resonator configurations. The nonlinear absorption is introduced phenomenologically, encompassing a large variety of intensity-dependent absorption mechanisms. Conditions for obtaining optical bistability are derived. Dynamically increasing absorption was not considered, and optical bistability in free propagation was not obtained.
A novel spatial light modulator (SLM) based on nonlinear absorption of light by excited molecules is suggested. A kinetic analysis is applied to calculate the relative populations of molecular levels in singlet and triplet manifolds. It is shown that for many actual cases a probe light can be modulated by propagating through a medium excited by another light source. The dependence of the molecular SLM on the photophysical parameters of the SLM medium is discussed. The same type of molecular nonlinearities can be utilized for optical bistability, as is demonstrated for some dyes.
We already discussed the bistable behavior of a Fabry Perot resonator filled with molecular media as well as the characteristics of a spatial light modulator (SLM) based on the nonlinearity induced by excited state absorption. In the present paper we present two practical configurations. First we analyze a cavity-less bistable element which removes some of the realization problems related to high finess cavity. In this configuration the nonlinear medium is located in one arm of an optical interferometer. The scheme provides the required amount of positive feedback by the bistable mechanism -- but without a cavity. We applied the nonlinear eikonal approximation, a method which takes care of the detailed propagation effects, and obtained conditions for bistability, as well as optimizing the design parameters such as the output mirror reflectivity, etc.
Optical bistability is a quantum optical realization of a first order phase transition far from equilibrium. A nonlinear optical material contained in an optical cavity driven resonantly by an external coherent optical field undergoes a first order phase transition to a new nonequilibrium stationary state of broken symmetry. Resonant and nonresonant nonlinear optical response of pi\\pipi-electron excitations in conjugated electronic structure provides the nonlinearity essential to the onset of bistability. Electronic correlation effects in reduced dimensions are responsible for nonresonant nonlinear optical responses. Saturable absorption studies of glassy polymer films consisting of quasi-two dimensional conjugated disc-like structure of silicon naphthalocyanine demonstrate that on-resonance the system behaves as an optical Bloch system with an intensity dependent refractive index of 1 times\\timestimes 10sp−4\\sp{-4}sp−4 cmsp2\\sp2sp2/kW. Based on the results of these studies, electronic absorptive optical bistability is observed on a nanosecond time scale in a nonlinear Fabry-Perot interferometer employing the saturable absorbing silicon naphthalocyanine film as the nonlinear optical medium.