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 Modern Optics

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

L. Roso, M. Ll. Pons

Published Oct 1, 1990• 8 citations
Publisher

Abstract

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.

DOI
10.1080/09500349014551801

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

Propagation of light in a nonlinear absorber

L. Roso

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.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Nov 1, 1987•29 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

Intensity-dependent spectral reflectivity of a dense-gas–dielectric interface

Richard M. Friedberg, Sven R. Hartmann, Jamal T. Manassah

Intense light incident on a dense-gas--dielectric interface, from the dielectric side, is reflected because of the combined effect of the discontinuities in the index of refraction at the interface and at the transition region in the gas where the degree of atomic saturation changes abruptly. This latter discontinuity gives rise to a self-reflected wave. At low intensities this self-reflected wave is weak, the problem is linear, and the net reflected wave intensity taken as a function of frequency has a simple shape that should allow measurement of the hitherto undetected self-induced frequency shift in a collision-broadened gas at an absorption resonance. Calculations show that in the weak intensity regime, r'', the imaginary part of the reflection coefficient, is quasi-Lorentzian and shifted by an amount comparable to its width. At high light intensity r'' broadens, shifts, and distorts. The distortion, which nonuniformly modulates the Lorentzian shape, comes from an interference of the forward and self-reflected waves. In the wings of the resonance line the self-reflected wave can be neglected, and the shape of r'' although not distorted is shifted from where it would be if there were no local field correction.

Physical Review A•Nov 1, 1990•30 citations

Bistability by Reflection at the Boundary of a Saturable Absorber

L. Roso

Numerical analysis of the Maxwell—Bloch equations shows that the normal incidence reflection of a plane monochromatic wave at the boundary of an absorber built up by independent two-level systems at rest exhibits bistable behavior. The propagation equation is where F is the rescaled field amplitude at each point of the absorber and ψ is another dimensionless parameter that accounts for the strength of the coupling.

Topical Meeting on Optical Bistability (OB)•Jan 1, 1985•0 citations

Light waves at the interface of linear and photorefractive media

Ron Daisy, Baruch Fischer

We study the behavior of light waves at an interface between linear and photorefractive media, where the incident wave propagates from the linear side. We find bistable behavior of the reflection coefficient as a function of the incident angle at incident wave directions in the vicinity of the critical angle for total internal reflection. The analysis is based on approximations in the photorefractive-process equations, for which an analytical plane-wave solution for the boundary problem is found. In this regime an exponentially decaying evanescent field induces a uniform change of the refractive index. The limitation of this solution is also studied by a numerical analysis.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Jun 1, 1994•18 citations
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.
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 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.
Intense light incident on a dense-gas--dielectric interface, from the dielectric side, is reflected because of the combined effect of the discontinuities in the index of refraction at the interface and at the transition region in the gas where the degree of atomic saturation changes abruptly. This latter discontinuity gives rise to a self-reflected wave. At low intensities this self-reflected wave is weak, the problem is linear, and the net reflected wave intensity taken as a function of frequency has a simple shape that should allow measurement of the hitherto undetected self-induced frequency shift in a collision-broadened gas at an absorption resonance. Calculations show that in the weak intensity regime, r'', the imaginary part of the reflection coefficient, is quasi-Lorentzian and shifted by an amount comparable to its width. At high light intensity r'' broadens, shifts, and distorts. The distortion, which nonuniformly modulates the Lorentzian shape, comes from an interference of the forward and self-reflected waves. In the wings of the resonance line the self-reflected wave can be neglected, and the shape of r'' although not distorted is shifted from where it would be if there were no local field correction.
We study the behavior of light waves at an interface between linear and photorefractive media, where the incident wave propagates from the linear side. We find bistable behavior of the reflection coefficient as a function of the incident angle at incident wave directions in the vicinity of the critical angle for total internal reflection. The analysis is based on approximations in the photorefractive-process equations, for which an analytical plane-wave solution for the boundary problem is found. In this regime an exponentially decaying evanescent field induces a uniform change of the refractive index. The limitation of this solution is also studied by a numerical analysis.