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Applied Physics Letters

Mirrorless all-optical bistability in polymer dispersed liquid crystals

Francesco F. Simoni, G. Cipparrone, Cesare Paolo Umeton

Published Nov 5, 1990• 13 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report the observation of a bistable behavior from dye-doped polymer dispersed liquid crystals. The interpretation of the phenomenon is given in the theoretical framework of an absorption which increases with the excitation of the material.
DOI
10.1063/1.104017

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An extended theoretical discussion of a novel general method of obtaining optical bistability is given. The method uses absorption that increases as the material becomes more excited and requires no mirrors or other external feedback. Criteria for bistability and differential gain are derived for a simple case, and specific illustrative analytic results are given. Limiting relations are derived for the switching powers and the width of the bistable region. It is shown that this general class of bistability encompasses at least six previous independent and unrelated investigations of mirrorless bistability in specific physical systems. The common general requirements for this bistability are discussed together with its attributes.
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It is shown theoretically that optical bistability will exist in a material whose optical absorption is more than linearly proportional to the degree to which the material is excited. No cavity or external feedback is required. The underlying principle of this bistability appears to be a generalization of several previous independent discussions of mirrorless bistabilities in specific physical systems. This bistability and associated differential gain are demonstrated experimentally using a thermal nonlinearity in a GaAs/GaAlAs multiple-quantum-well semiconductor. Theory and experiment show good agreement.