Absorptive Optically Bistable Arrays

Lorenzo M. Narducci, James D. Farina, L. Benza

W. J. Firth, Angus Lord

The basic physics of nonlinear optics in semiconductors is reviewed. Optical bistability due to increasing absorption and in a Kerr cavity is discussed, as are spatial solitons in a Kerr medium. These introduce recent research on spontaneous pattern formation and soliton-like structures in semiconductor cavity models. Applications to optical information processing are discussed, and simulations of a soliton array memory presented.

Paul Mandel, Thomas Erneux

Xiuju Zhao, Bin Xu, Xiangna Kong +3 more

The optical bistability, tristability and multistability are explored in arrays of graphene. The arrays are periodically arranged spatially by single sheets of graphene. Optical bistability could be achieved with a strong enough incident intensity of light wave. The thresholds of optical bistability and the intervals between the upper and lower thresholds change with the surface conductivity of graphene and the incident wavelength. By increasing the intensity of incident light, tristability and multistability can be induced as well. Furthermore, the thresholds of bistability, tristability and multistability can be regulated via the chemical potential of graphene. This study may have potential applications in optical logic gates, all-optical switches and photomemory.

Federico Casagrande, L. A. Lugiato

Ying Hua Ji, Fucheng Lin

The optical bistability of a four-level system with triplet-state absorption typical of organic media is studied. We derive the state equation of optical bistability with triplet-state absorption. Different bistabilities with resonant absorption or dispersion of the triplet state are numerically discussed. The effects of the cooperativity parameter and the atomic- and cavity-detuning parameters on optical bistable behavior are analyzed. It is found that the hysteresis loops decrease with an increase of both the cooperativity parameter and the atomic-detuning parameter of the triplet state and that under some conditions reverse saturable-absorptive media can display bistability.