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Physical Review A

Effect of soft saturation on nonlinear interface switching

Robert Cuykendall, Karlheinz Strobl

Published Jan 1, 1990• 8 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Numerical simulation of a nonlinear interface has shown that remarkable improvement in switching quality is theoretically possible by hard-limited saturation of the nonlinearity. We report the results of simulations investigating the effect of different types of soft saturation on nonlinear-interface switching behavior. The calculated predictions are consistent with recent experimental findings and show surprisingly little difference between hard and soft saturation. Significant softening leads to contrast reduction.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.41.352

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Numerical simulation of a nonlinear interface has shown that remarkable improvement in switching quality is theoretically possible by hard-limited saturation of the nonlinearity. We report the results of simulations investigating the effect of different types of soft saturation on nonlinear-interface switching behavior. The calculated predictions are consistent with recent experimental findings and show surprisingly little difference between hard and soft saturation. Significant softening leads to contrast reduction.
Recently, a new class of optical bistability, involving transverse self-phase modulation effect with a single reflection feedback, has been demonstrated. We present here a detailed theoretical calculation of the effect of saturation and nonlocality on the switching behavior and power. The technique employed is similar to that given in a recent paper but generalized to the case where the nonlinear refractive-index change contains a saturation parameter. It is found that both the switching powers and the hysteresis loops are considerably changed. Multiple close-by switching loops occur. Because of the extreme sensitivity of the transverse bistability switching on the width of the transverse nonlinear phase shift, we have also investigated the effect due to nonlocal response of the thin film subjected to a Gaussian laser beam. Specific detailed calculations were performed for nonlinear thin film where such nonlocal behaviors are expected (e.g., liquid crystal reorientation and diffusive processes in semiconductors). The most prominent result is that a more accurate prediction of the switching intensity is obtained if the nonlocal effects are included.
The reflection of light at the interface between linear and nonlinear media can provide fundamentally novel nonlinear effects such as nonlinear switching from total internal reflection to partial transmission, bleaching of the interface, and bistability. The nonlinear interface is the simplest switching and bistable optical device. Unlike bistable Fabry-Perot resonators, it allows one to use broadband sources of light and remove resonant restrictions on frequency tuning, and offers potentials to attain high operating speed. Experimental demonstration of those effects shows good agreement with some of the predictions of plane-wave theory. Some of the experimental results as well as computer simulation, however, show a new feature of the phenomenon which requires further exploration.
Calculations are presented which describe approximately the behavior of optically bistable devices based on the self-focusing of light. A simple heuristic calculation and a more complicated calculation which incorporates saturation of the material nonlinearity are presented. Both give a good qualitative description of situations in which a single hysteresis loop is observed. More complicated types of behavior, some of which have been observed, are predicted by the calculations which incorporate saturation. The results provide useful guides for the design of such devices.
This report summarizes the results of an investigation of several different types of optically activated light switches based on third-order nonlinear optical effects. Two optical switches utilizing the change of refractive index induced in a nonlinear medium by an intense light beam are described: one utilizes a single-pass and the other a multiple-pass (interferometric) geometry. Results of a search to find new media with large nonlinearities are given, and the possibility of increasing the nonlinearity of commonly used media by Raman-type resonant enhancement is discussed. The theoretical and experimental behavior of Fabry-Perot interferometer switch with a nonlinearly absorbing intracavity medium is also presented. In some cases, the switch could be activated by anomalously low pump powers, and possible mechanisms for this effect are discussed. The results of a literature search on the photorefractive effect are presented along with the results of an experimental effort to measure the photorefractive effect in Ge:SiO2. (Author)