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

Annalen der Physik

Polarization Bistability due to Optical Feedback

P. Belkner, F.‐J. Schütte

Published Jan 1, 1991• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract An optical ring cavity filled with an isotropic medium is driven externally. Two waves of the same frequency but of different polarization are coupled nonlinearly by a Kerr type interaction. It is theoretically shown that the symmetry of the linear polarized input field may be broken spontaneously. Beyond an intensity threshold the output field gets elliptic polarization. Right and left elliptic states are stable. The system shows polarization bistability.

DOI
10.1002/andp.19915030505

Related papers

Polarization patterns in a passive ring-cavity

J.B. Geddes, Jerome V. Moloney, Ewan M. Wright +1 more

A ring-cavity system, filled with an isotropic nonlinear medium and driven by a linearly polarized coherent input field, has been the subject of intense study over the last decade. This system can show a number of non-equilibrium phase transitions, including optical bistability (OB), and transverse pattern formation. The instability responsible for pattern formation then simply serves to drive the system from the unstable lower branch to the stable upper branch. This conclusion, however, is based on the assumption that the internal field in the nonlinear ring-cavity preserves its polarization state as that of the input field. Here we extend the mean field model to include polarization effects.>

Nonlinear Optics•Dec 17, 2002•0 citations

Polarization instabilities in an isotropic nonlinear Kerr medium

Alexander L. Gaeta, Robert W. Boyd

The steady-state polarizations of fields counterpropagating in nonlinear Kerr media can exhibit complicated behavior.1 We examine the temporal behavior for the case of an isotropic nonlinear Kerr medium and show that the polarizations are temporally unstable above a certain threshold intensity, even when the input polarizations are linear and parallel to each other. This polarization configuration is known to be spatially stable and is often chosen for the two strong pump waves in phase conjugation by degenerate four-wave mixing. We find that the threshold intensity for the polarization instability is approximately the intensity at which the phase conjugate reflectivity is equal to unity. Depending on the ratio of the two input intensities, this instability just above threshold can manifest itself as an abrupt rotation of the output polarizations to a new steady-state value or as a periodic oscillation of the output polarizations. At higher intensities the polarization can evolve chaotically in time, and depending on the ratio of the transit time through the medium to the response time of the medium the output intensity can fluctuate chaotically as well.

Annual Meeting Optical Society of America•Jan 1, 1987•0 citations

Controlled hysteresis in optical systems surrounded by two feedback loops

George P. Miroshnichenko, Alexander Trifanov

The absorptive bistability in a nonlinear optical system surrounded by two feedback loops is studied. The role of the nonlinear element is played by a cell with Λ-type atom vapors placed in a unidirectional ring cavity. The feedback includes two electromagnetic fields interacting with two atomic transitions. A two-dimensional domain of stability was found in the coordinates of field intensities at the input. The dependence of its shape on the values of different parameters of the optical system is studied. The input-output curves corresponding to different trajectories in the domain of stability are obtained.

Optics and Spectroscopy•Dec 1, 2011•0 citations

Optical bistability in nonlinear system with two loops of feedback

George P. Miroshnichenko, Alexander Trifanov

A model of nonlinear optical system surrounded by two loops of feedback is investigated. The cell with the vapor of rubidium - type atoms is taken in the capacity of nonlinear element. Two modes of near-resonant electromagnetic field interacting with the cell are involved in the feedback. Two-dimensional optical bistability domain in location of input field intensities is obtained and dependence of its form and magnitude from the system parameters (photon detunings, feedback factor etc.) is investigated. "Input - output" relations corresponding to different trajectories in the bistability domain are obtained. Cross-hysteresis is studied.

arXiv:1011.3617•Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Jan 6, 2011•2 citations

Existence of a bistable polarization state in a Kerr medium in the presence of two-photon absorption

M Lefkir, Xuan Nguyen Phu, Genevieve Rivoire

An elliptically polarized beam is sent into a cell filled with nitrobenzol. The output polarization shows two stable states for a single set of input parameters when the excitation is above the two-photon absorption threshold. Transverse field effects combined with third-order nonlinear parameter changes at high intensities can be used to explain the observations.

Quantum and Semiclassical Optics Journal of the European Optical Society Part B•Feb 1, 1998•7 citations

Range of existence of optical multistability in a resonator with an optically active medium

M. I. Dykman, Vladimir Makarov, A. V. Matveeva

Optical bistability in resonators containing a nonlinear gyrotropic isotropic medium is analyzed by studying the dependence of the bifurcation intensity of the incident radiation on its ellipticity. It is found that if the gyrotropy is weak, this dependence may have symmetry-induced singular points or turning points. The stable radiation states in the resonator formed near a singular or turning point differ in respect of the polarization and are due to the evolution of the polarization instability. Bifurcation curves are plotted for a ring resonator containing a medium with a cubic nonlinearity. The form of these curves changes appreciably as the gyrotropy is increased. The change in the resonator transmission accompanying changes in the gyrotropy is studied.

Soviet Journal of Quantum Electronics•Jul 31, 1989•0 citations
Abstract An optical ring cavity filled with an isotropic medium is driven externally. Two waves of the same frequency but of different polarization are coupled nonlinearly by a Kerr type interaction. It is theoretically shown that the symmetry of the linear polarized input field may be broken spontaneously. Beyond an intensity threshold the output field gets elliptic polarization. Right and left elliptic states are stable. The system shows polarization bistability.
A ring-cavity system, filled with an isotropic nonlinear medium and driven by a linearly polarized coherent input field, has been the subject of intense study over the last decade. This system can show a number of non-equilibrium phase transitions, including optical bistability (OB), and transverse pattern formation. The instability responsible for pattern formation then simply serves to drive the system from the unstable lower branch to the stable upper branch. This conclusion, however, is based on the assumption that the internal field in the nonlinear ring-cavity preserves its polarization state as that of the input field. Here we extend the mean field model to include polarization effects.>
The steady-state polarizations of fields counterpropagating in nonlinear Kerr media can exhibit complicated behavior.1 We examine the temporal behavior for the case of an isotropic nonlinear Kerr medium and show that the polarizations are temporally unstable above a certain threshold intensity, even when the input polarizations are linear and parallel to each other. This polarization configuration is known to be spatially stable and is often chosen for the two strong pump waves in phase conjugation by degenerate four-wave mixing. We find that the threshold intensity for the polarization instability is approximately the intensity at which the phase conjugate reflectivity is equal to unity. Depending on the ratio of the two input intensities, this instability just above threshold can manifest itself as an abrupt rotation of the output polarizations to a new steady-state value or as a periodic oscillation of the output polarizations. At higher intensities the polarization can evolve chaotically in time, and depending on the ratio of the transit time through the medium to the response time of the medium the output intensity can fluctuate chaotically as well.
The absorptive bistability in a nonlinear optical system surrounded by two feedback loops is studied. The role of the nonlinear element is played by a cell with Λ-type atom vapors placed in a unidirectional ring cavity. The feedback includes two electromagnetic fields interacting with two atomic transitions. A two-dimensional domain of stability was found in the coordinates of field intensities at the input. The dependence of its shape on the values of different parameters of the optical system is studied. The input-output curves corresponding to different trajectories in the domain of stability are obtained.
A model of nonlinear optical system surrounded by two loops of feedback is investigated. The cell with the vapor of rubidium - type atoms is taken in the capacity of nonlinear element. Two modes of near-resonant electromagnetic field interacting with the cell are involved in the feedback. Two-dimensional optical bistability domain in location of input field intensities is obtained and dependence of its form and magnitude from the system parameters (photon detunings, feedback factor etc.) is investigated. "Input - output" relations corresponding to different trajectories in the bistability domain are obtained. Cross-hysteresis is studied.
Optical bistability in resonators containing a nonlinear gyrotropic isotropic medium is analyzed by studying the dependence of the bifurcation intensity of the incident radiation on its ellipticity. It is found that if the gyrotropy is weak, this dependence may have symmetry-induced singular points or turning points. The stable radiation states in the resonator formed near a singular or turning point differ in respect of the polarization and are due to the evolution of the polarization instability. Bifurcation curves are plotted for a ring resonator containing a medium with a cubic nonlinearity. The form of these curves changes appreciably as the gyrotropy is increased. The change in the resonator transmission accompanying changes in the gyrotropy is studied.