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

Chinese Physics

Intrinsic optical bistability between left-handed material and nonlinear optical materials

Hongyan Shi, Yongyuan Jiang, Sun Xiu-Dong, Guo Ru-Hai, Zhao Yi-Ping

Published Jul 29, 2005• 10 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The electromagnetic properties of the interface between a left-handed material and a conventional nonlinear material were investigated theoretically and numerically. We found a new phenomenon—optical bistability of the interface. It was shown that the incident intensity, incident angle and permeability ratio between the left-handed and the nonlinear materials could dramatically affect the optical bistable behaviour. We also compared the bistable behaviours of different electromagnetic modes. The results indicated that the TE mode was prior to the TM mode to obtain optical bistability for the same parameter.

DOI
10.1088/1009-1963/14/8/017

Related papers

Optical bistability in a nonlinear-linear interface with two-wave mixing

Ron Daisy, Baruch Fischer

We introduce a new mechanism for optical bistability at an interface between nonlinear (Kerr or photorefractive) and linear media for a light wave that propagates from the nonlinear side near the critical angle. The origin for this effect is the nonlinear coupling between the incident and reflected (from the interface) waves. We derive the laws of reflectivity and transmissivity and find a bistable behavior as a function of the incident power or the angle.

Optics Letters•Jun 15, 1992•9 citations

Optical Bistability

Partha P. Banerjee

In the last chapter, we examined the effect of cubic nonlinearity on selfrefraction of an optical beam. We have also seen that the presence of a quadratic nonlinearity can also contribute to change in the profile of a Gaussian beam in a crystal. In this chapter we will see how the effect of nonlinearity, alongwith the proper feedback, can give rise to optical bistability and hysteresis. This is not unexpected as hysteresis and bistability are also observed in nonlinear electronic circuits with feedback, such as in the Schmitt trigger, as well as in hybrid optical devices, such as an acoustooptic device with feedback (Banerjee and Poon, 1991). In what follows, we will examine two different types of optically bistable devices based on optical nonlinearities. The first is a nonlinear ring resonator comprising a two-level gain medium as the nonlinear element. We will treat both absorptive and dispersive bistability. Absorptive bistability is the case when the incident optical frequency is close to or equal to the transition frequency of the atoms from one level to another. In this case, the absorption coefficient becomes a nonlinear function of the incident intensity. On the other hand, if the frequencies are far apart, the medium behaves like a Kerr-type material and the system exhibits what is called dispersive bistability. In this case the material can be modeled by an effective n2 or v (3), meaning that the refractive index becomes a nonlinear function of the optical intensity. The second configurationwewill examine is a linear-nonlinear interface. In this case, the interface provides the feedback due to refractive index mismatch. In fact, the reflection coefficient (as well as the transmission coefficient) is modified due to the nonlinearity, which, as we shall see later, is responsible for demonstrating optical switching and bistability.

Nonlinear Optics•Dec 4, 2003•0 citations

On the intrinsic optical bistability of a single Kerr nonlinear dielectric layer

Abdel-Baset M.A. Ibrahim

In this study, we investigate the optical bistability and multistability in a pure single Kerr nonlinear layer of dielectric material using the Maxwell-Duffing approach. We employ the Duffing anharmonic oscillator as an alternative constitutive relation to express the electric field as a nonlinear function of the induced polarization. Utilizing both the electromagnetic wave equation and the Duffing constitutive relation, we obtain a nonlinear polarization equation propagates through the nonlinear layer under the slowly varying envelope approximation. With the application of boundary conditions at both interfaces, expressions for the incident, reflected, and transmitted intensities of the light wave are obtained as nonlinear functions of the polarization and other controlling parameters. For realistic input parameters, our numerical results demonstrated the existence of an intrinsic optical bistability (IOB) in a pure single dielectric layer. Furthermore, the threshold value of the observed IOB depends essentially on the value Eth, i.e., the minimum value required to invoke the third-order nonlinearity inside the material. For operating frequency near the sharp resonance region, Eth was found to be ≈105 V/cm; this is equivalent to a threshold value of the optical intensity ≈1010 W/cm2. With the developments in THz sources, it is nowadays possible to observe this IOB experimentally by tuning the operating frequency near the sharp resonance region of the material. Steps to get the threshold value of Eth are also advised.

Journal of Applied Physics•May 8, 2015•5 citations

Investigation of optical bistability in anisotropic left-handed photonic crystals

Elham Alipour, P. Tajalli, H. Tajalli

In this paper optical bistability in one-dimensional photonic crystals containing anisotropic dielectric materials and anisotropic metamaterials with a nonlinear defect layer has been studied. By using transfer matrix method, the impact of the effective factors on the optical bistability threshold has investigated and then distribution of the electric filed within this kind of structures has been shown

انجمن اپتیک و فوتونیک ایران•Feb 15, 2014•0 citations

Polarization-induced switching and polarization bistability in nonlinear planar resonators with diffusive nonlinearity

Jan Danckaert, Hugo Thienpont A, Irina P. Veretennicoff

To merge the fields of polarization and nonlinear optics opens wide perspectives. The present work aims at investigating some of them. It is shown, on one hand, that if a nonlinear Fabry- Perot resonator filled with an optically isotropic material is addressed by an obliquely incident beam, the transmitted irradiance can switch from an up to a down state (or the reverse) if its polarization is properly modulated. If on the other hand the nonlinear cavity is filled with a linearly birefringent material, polarization optical bistability can occur, even at normal incidence. This polarization bistability can arise both by modulating the incident irradiance and by modulating the incident polarization. Optical bistability of the transmitted irradiance can also be induced by the modulation of the polarization of the incident beam. All these features provide new tools for parallel digital optical information processing.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Jun 28, 1993•0 citations

Low-threshold bistable reflection assisted by oscillating wave interaction with Kerr nonlinear medium*

Yingcong Zhang, Wenjuan Cai, Xianping Wang +5 more

Owing to the enormously enhanced oscillating wave, a minute variation of the incident light intensity will give rise to a change in the dielectric constant of the Kerr nonlinear medium and lead to a bistable reflection with an ultra-low threshold intensity, which is closely related to the angle of incidence and the thickness of the Kerr nonlinear medium. The criterion for the existence of optical bistability is derived. Our bistability scheme is simple and not limited to the TM-polarization.

Chinese Physics B•Jan 29, 2021•1 citation
The electromagnetic properties of the interface between a left-handed material and a conventional nonlinear material were investigated theoretically and numerically. We found a new phenomenon—optical bistability of the interface. It was shown that the incident intensity, incident angle and permeability ratio between the left-handed and the nonlinear materials could dramatically affect the optical bistable behaviour. We also compared the bistable behaviours of different electromagnetic modes. The results indicated that the TE mode was prior to the TM mode to obtain optical bistability for the same parameter.
In the last chapter, we examined the effect of cubic nonlinearity on selfrefraction of an optical beam. We have also seen that the presence of a quadratic nonlinearity can also contribute to change in the profile of a Gaussian beam in a crystal. In this chapter we will see how the effect of nonlinearity, alongwith the proper feedback, can give rise to optical bistability and hysteresis. This is not unexpected as hysteresis and bistability are also observed in nonlinear electronic circuits with feedback, such as in the Schmitt trigger, as well as in hybrid optical devices, such as an acoustooptic device with feedback (Banerjee and Poon, 1991). In what follows, we will examine two different types of optically bistable devices based on optical nonlinearities. The first is a nonlinear ring resonator comprising a two-level gain medium as the nonlinear element. We will treat both absorptive and dispersive bistability. Absorptive bistability is the case when the incident optical frequency is close to or equal to the transition frequency of the atoms from one level to another. In this case, the absorption coefficient becomes a nonlinear function of the incident intensity. On the other hand, if the frequencies are far apart, the medium behaves like a Kerr-type material and the system exhibits what is called dispersive bistability. In this case the material can be modeled by an effective n2 or v (3), meaning that the refractive index becomes a nonlinear function of the optical intensity. The second configurationwewill examine is a linear-nonlinear interface. In this case, the interface provides the feedback due to refractive index mismatch. In fact, the reflection coefficient (as well as the transmission coefficient) is modified due to the nonlinearity, which, as we shall see later, is responsible for demonstrating optical switching and bistability.
In this study, we investigate the optical bistability and multistability in a pure single Kerr nonlinear layer of dielectric material using the Maxwell-Duffing approach. We employ the Duffing anharmonic oscillator as an alternative constitutive relation to express the electric field as a nonlinear function of the induced polarization. Utilizing both the electromagnetic wave equation and the Duffing constitutive relation, we obtain a nonlinear polarization equation propagates through the nonlinear layer under the slowly varying envelope approximation. With the application of boundary conditions at both interfaces, expressions for the incident, reflected, and transmitted intensities of the light wave are obtained as nonlinear functions of the polarization and other controlling parameters. For realistic input parameters, our numerical results demonstrated the existence of an intrinsic optical bistability (IOB) in a pure single dielectric layer. Furthermore, the threshold value of the observed IOB depends essentially on the value Eth, i.e., the minimum value required to invoke the third-order nonlinearity inside the material. For operating frequency near the sharp resonance region, Eth was found to be ≈105 V/cm; this is equivalent to a threshold value of the optical intensity ≈1010 W/cm2. With the developments in THz sources, it is nowadays possible to observe this IOB experimentally by tuning the operating frequency near the sharp resonance region of the material. Steps to get the threshold value of Eth are also advised.
To merge the fields of polarization and nonlinear optics opens wide perspectives. The present work aims at investigating some of them. It is shown, on one hand, that if a nonlinear Fabry- Perot resonator filled with an optically isotropic material is addressed by an obliquely incident beam, the transmitted irradiance can switch from an up to a down state (or the reverse) if its polarization is properly modulated. If on the other hand the nonlinear cavity is filled with a linearly birefringent material, polarization optical bistability can occur, even at normal incidence. This polarization bistability can arise both by modulating the incident irradiance and by modulating the incident polarization. Optical bistability of the transmitted irradiance can also be induced by the modulation of the polarization of the incident beam. All these features provide new tools for parallel digital optical information processing.