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 the Optical Society of America B

Propagation of light in a nonlinear absorber

L. Roso

Published Nov 1, 1987• 29 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The propagation of laser light a few wavelengths inside a saturable absorber is theoretically studied. Computed steady-state solutions of the Maxwell–Bloch equations that describe the unidimensional propagation of a plane monochromatic wave, without introducing the slowly varying envelope approximation, show how saturation effects can influence this propagation. This can even lead to the appearance of a self-reflected wave inside the absorber because of the refractive-index changes that are induced by nonlinear coupling. One finds a close relation between the failure of the slowly varying envelope approximation and the presence of the self-reflected wave.

DOI
10.1364/josab.4.001878

Related papers

Bistability By Self-Reflection In A Saturable Absorber

L. Roso

Propagation of laser light through a saturable absorber is theoretically studied. Computed steady state solutions of the Maxwell equations describing the unidimensional propagation of a plane monochromatic wave without introducing the slowly-varying envelope approximation are presented showing how saturation effects can influence the absorption of the field. At a certain range of refractive index and extintion coefficients, computed solutions display a very susprising behaviour, and a self-reflected wave appears inside the absorber. This can be useful for a new kind of biestable device, similar to a standard bistable cavity but with the back mirror self-induced by the light.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Jan 1, 1987•0 citations

Mirrorless Bistability In A Thin Absorbing Film Induced By A New Mechanism

L. Roso

The propagation of laser light through a thin absorbing film is theoretically studied. Computed steady-state solutions of the Maxwell-Bloch equations describing the unidimensional propagation of a plane monochromatic wave without introducing the slowly varying envelope approximation are presented that show how saturation effects can influence the absorption of the field. Those solutions indicate a new mechanism that can result in a bistable response of a thin absorbing film. This mechanism is closely related to the so-called self-induced reflectivity.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Jul 10, 1987•0 citations

Self-Reflected Wave inside a Very Dense Saturable Absorber

L. Roso

The numerical solution of the Maxwell-Bloch equations describing the propagation of a plane monochromatic wave through a saturable absorber shows the appearance of a new kind of reflected wave generated inside the medium. This new phenomenon is described and its physical origin, related to the saturation-induced refractive index changes, is discussed.

Physical Review Letters•Nov 11, 1985•35 citations

Small-Scale And Whole Beam Self-Focusing Of Very Intense Laser Beams In Saturable Absorbers

J. P. Babuel-Peyrissac, J. P. Marinier, C. Bardin +4 more

We will examine here the influence of small-scale perturbations on light propagation inside a saturable atomic vapor, where the induced polarization is obtained by solving the steady-state optical Bloch equations. Numerical computations have been found to be in excellent agreement wich the results predicted by the analytical study of plane-wave perturbations in the linear regime. Computational results about initial non-plane laser beams are also of interest.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Nov 20, 1985•0 citations

Reflection of a Plane Wave at the Boundary of a Saturable Absorber: Normal Incidence

L. Roso, M. Ll. Pons

The absorption and reflection of a plane wave at the interface of a linear dielectric and a very dense saturable absorber is studied in situations where the linear refractive index has an imaginary part that is much bigger than its real part. In this domain of parameters, computed results calculated without the use of the slowly varying envelope approximation show the presence of a self-reflected wave that eventually might lead to a bistable reflectivity.

Journal of Modern Optics•Oct 1, 1990•8 citations

Feasibility of nonlinear reflection of light by a collisionless molecular beam

L. Roso, M. Ll. Pons

Numerical solutions of the Maxwell-Bloch equations describing the nonlinear absorption of an IR laser field as it propagates across a collisionless molecular beam are presented. Calculations show the possibility that the laser field experiences a self-reflection inside the molecular beam while it is being absorbed. Since the density of the molecular beam changes smoothly in the radial direction, there are no reflections induced by its boundaries, and it constitutes an ideal system to study the self-reflected wave. The reflectivity of the molecular beam is predicted to be vanishingly small at low intensities but to increase dramatically as the nonlinear effects become significant.

Optics Letters•Nov 1, 1990•11 citations
The propagation of laser light a few wavelengths inside a saturable absorber is theoretically studied. Computed steady-state solutions of the Maxwell–Bloch equations that describe the unidimensional propagation of a plane monochromatic wave, without introducing the slowly varying envelope approximation, show how saturation effects can influence this propagation. This can even lead to the appearance of a self-reflected wave inside the absorber because of the refractive-index changes that are induced by nonlinear coupling. One finds a close relation between the failure of the slowly varying envelope approximation and the presence of the self-reflected wave.
Propagation of laser light through a saturable absorber is theoretically studied. Computed steady state solutions of the Maxwell equations describing the unidimensional propagation of a plane monochromatic wave without introducing the slowly-varying envelope approximation are presented showing how saturation effects can influence the absorption of the field. At a certain range of refractive index and extintion coefficients, computed solutions display a very susprising behaviour, and a self-reflected wave appears inside the absorber. This can be useful for a new kind of biestable device, similar to a standard bistable cavity but with the back mirror self-induced by the light.
The propagation of laser light through a thin absorbing film is theoretically studied. Computed steady-state solutions of the Maxwell-Bloch equations describing the unidimensional propagation of a plane monochromatic wave without introducing the slowly varying envelope approximation are presented that show how saturation effects can influence the absorption of the field. Those solutions indicate a new mechanism that can result in a bistable response of a thin absorbing film. This mechanism is closely related to the so-called self-induced reflectivity.
Numerical solutions of the Maxwell-Bloch equations describing the nonlinear absorption of an IR laser field as it propagates across a collisionless molecular beam are presented. Calculations show the possibility that the laser field experiences a self-reflection inside the molecular beam while it is being absorbed. Since the density of the molecular beam changes smoothly in the radial direction, there are no reflections induced by its boundaries, and it constitutes an ideal system to study the self-reflected wave. The reflectivity of the molecular beam is predicted to be vanishingly small at low intensities but to increase dramatically as the nonlinear effects become significant.