An analysis is made of the operation of hybrid resonator-free optically bistable devices. An analysis is made for the delay time and the finite width of the pass band in the feedback circuit. The values of the parameters are divided into ranges corresponding to stationary, periodic, and stochastic operation.
In a previous paper1an empirical and analytical study of instabilities in hybrid optical bistable systems was reported by us. At the end of that paper and in order to study the theory, a triangular voltage bias was added to the feedback, instead of the usual constant one. In that way the workline is displayed with the same slope, tg−1βIIN. Because the slope transmission ( dT dV ) was negative, the output, for a constant input, was periodic oscillations having a delay time larger the material response time. The nomenclature is explained in ref. 1.
A possible new way to drive hybrid optical devices based on a differential two-channel feedback configuration is presented. To verify the feasibility and characteristics of this approach, comparisons between two-channel and single-channel arrangements are reported. Several analogies and differences in operating conditions are also proved. From the point of view of application possibilities, the optical image obtained of an optical pulse exhibits time-discrimination characteristics, whereas in the single-channel case it shows discriminated intensity levels. This fact can be profitably used in parallel image processing systems.