Dynamical transient response and longitudinal spatial evolution of the first-order phase transition are presented for intrinsic optical bistability of a system of interacting spatially distributed, coherently driven two-level atoms. It is shown that a discontinuity in the nonlinear dielectric function is established internal to the medium due to transient response to a coherent, externally applied, time-dependent driving field, following the attainment of a critical value for the input intensity. If the externally applied field intensity reaches the steady state, beyond the critical value, the discontinuity of the nonlinear dielectric function in the medium reaches a stable stationary condition and forms a spatial boundary between states of high and low polarization in the medium. Thus it is shown that intrinsic optical bistability corresponds to a spatial as well as a temporal first-order phase transition in light-matter interactions, far from thermodynamic equilibrium, where the spatial boundary between different phases is established by transient dynamical response to the incident field.Dynamical transient response and longitudinal spatial evolution of the first-order phase transition are presented for intrinsic optical bistability of a system of interacting spatially distributed, coherently driven two-level atoms. It is shown that a discontinuity in the nonlinear dielectric function is established internal to the medium due to transient response to a coherent, externally applied, time-dependent driving field, following the attainment of a critical value for the input intensity. If the externally applied field intensity reaches the steady state, beyond the critical value, the discontinuity of the nonlinear dielectric function in the medium reaches a stable stationary condition and forms a spatial boundary between states of high and low polarization in the medium. Thus it is shown that intrinsic optical bistability corresponds to a spatial as well as a temporal first-order phase transition in light-matter interactions, far from thermodynamic equilibrium, where the spatial boundary between different phases is established by transient dynamical response to the incident field.

Physical Review AFeb 1, 199044 citations

Dynamic behaviour of optical bistability

Axel Schenzle, Helmut R. Brand

Optics CommunicationsDec 1, 197940 citations

Resonatorless optical bistability in direct-band-gap semiconductors as an example of bistability driven by a phase transition

V. A. Kochelap, A. V. Kuznetsov

Within the framework of a simple numerical model, we investigate the optical properties of a laser-excited direct-band-gap semiconductor (CdS) in the case when both free and bound electron-hole pairs are present. At low temperatures the ionization of excitons proceeds via a first-order phase transition, which is closely related to the Mott transition, and we argue that in direct-band-gap semiconductors it is not suppressed by the electron-hole liquid condensation, as it is in indirect-band-gap materials. The existence of the two corresponding ionization phases with different optical properties is shown to result in optical bistability (OB), which is quite similar to the increasing-absorption (resonatorless) OB but has some peculiarities of its own. Our model also predicts another optical manifestation of this ionization phase transition---the possibility of absorption oscillations at resonant excitation of excitons.Within the framework of a simple numerical model, we investigate the optical properties of a laser-excited direct-band-gap semiconductor (CdS) in the case when both free and bound electron-hole pairs are present. At low temperatures the ionization of excitons proceeds via a first-order phase transition, which is closely related to the Mott transition, and we argue that in direct-band-gap semiconductors it is not suppressed by the electron-hole liquid condensation, as it is in indirect-band-gap materials. The existence of the two corresponding ionization phases with different optical properties is shown to result in optical bistability (OB), which is quite similar to the increasing-absorption (resonatorless) OB but has some peculiarities of its own. Our model also predicts another optical manifestation of this ionization phase transition---the possibility of absorption oscillations at resonant excitation of excitons.

Physical review. B, Condensed matterOct 15, 19903 citations

STEADY-STATE MODEL OF OPTICAL BISTABILITY

Hyatt M. Gibbs

Elsevier eBooksJan 1, 19856 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.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, 19890 citations

\\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

\\sp{-4}

\\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.