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

Optics Letters

Pitchfork bifurcation and all-optical digital signal processing with a coupled-element bistable system

Kenju Otsuka

Published Jan 1, 1989• 31 citations
Publisher

Abstract

An optical bistable system composed of coupled nonlinear elements is proposed. This system features optical bistability without hysteresis, which appears through pitchfork bifurcation. It is shown theoretically that a flipflop operation and a complete set of logic-gate characteristics can be achieved easily on an all-optical basis.
DOI
10.1364/ol.14.000072

Related papers

Pitchfork bifurcation and all-optical flip-flop operation with a coupled traveling-wave amplifier system

Kenju Otsuka, Jyh‐Long Chern, John K. McIver

Mirrorless optical bistability arising through pitchfork bifurcation is predicted in a coupled anisotropic traveling-wave laser amplifier system. It is shown theoretically that an all-optical flip-flop operation can be attained by utilizing the complementary bistable characteristics of counterpropagating beams.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Jun 1, 1991•2 citations

All-optical flip-flop operations in a coupled element bistable device

Kenju Otsuka

An optical bistable device composed of coupled nonlinear elements is proposed. This device features optical bistability without hysteresis. It is shown theoretically that a set-reset type (S-R) flip-flop operation can be easily achieved on an all-optical basis by utilising nonhysteretic bistable characteristics.

Electronics Letters•Jun 23, 1988•20 citations

Optical bistability with symmetry breaking

T. Yabuzaki, Taishi Okamoto, Masao Kitano +1 more

It is shown that a simple system without a cavity exhibits optical bistability with no hysteresis but with symmetry-breaking or pitchfork bifurcation. The optical system is composed of a cell containing atoms with spin in the ground state, a $\frac{\ensuremath{\lambda}}{8}$ plate and a mirror, and an incident light beam linearly polarized and nearly resonant with the atomic absorption line. The system has a positive-feedback loop for the rotation of polarization through competitive optical pumping by ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$ circularly polarized components. When the intensity of the incident light exceeds a critical value, symmetry breaking occurs and its polarization is subject to rotation in the clockwise or anticlockwise sense. Correspondingly, atomic spin polarization is produced spontaneously in a direction parallel or antiparallel to the incident beam. This new type of optical bistability is found to be explained well in context with the cusp catastrophe, as well as the ordinary one with hysteresis. It is also found that, in the presence of a transverse magnetic field, self-sustained spin precession occurs, which results in the steady-state modulation of the light polarization at about the Larmor frequency. Experimental evidence of the symmetry breaking and pitchfork bifurcation is obtained by using sodium vapor.

Physical Review A•Apr 1, 1984•36 citations

Optical bistable devices as sensing elements

Ana Pilar Gonzalez-Marcos, Antonio Hurtado, José A. Martín-Pereda

The nonlinear optical properties of many materials and devices have been the main object of research as potential candidates for sensing in different places. Just one of these properties has been, in most of the cases, the basis for the sensing operation. As a consequence, just one parameter can be detected. In this paper, although just one property will be employed too, we will show the possibility to sense different parameters with just one type of sensor. The way adopted in this work is the use of the optical bistability obtained from different photonic structures. Because this optical bistability has a strong dependence on many different parameters the possibility to sense different inputs appears. In our case, we will report the use of some non-linear optical devices, mainly Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers, as sensing elements. Because their outputs depend on many parameters, as the incident light wavelength, polarization, intensity and direction, applied voltage and feedback characteristics, they can be employed to detect, at the same time, different type of signals. This is because the way these different signals affect to the sensor response is very different too and appears under a different set of characteristics.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Nov 30, 2004•4 citations

Pitchfork bifurcation using a two-beam nonlinear Fabry–Perot interferometer: an analytical study

Marc Haelterman, Paul Mandel

A recent modal theory of nonlinear planar resonators is applied to the analysis of the steady transmission characteristics of the two-beam nonlinear Fabry-Perot interferometer. An analytical study, based on the planewave approximation, is presented that shows the potential applications of the device. In particular, a flip-flop mode of operation, derived from a pitchfork bifurcation, is predicted. Its salient feature is to require only positive triggering pulses.

Optics Letters•Dec 1, 1990•29 citations

Adaptive Optical Logic And Switching Devices

David Kagan, Harry Friedmann

Tunable Optical Bistability, where a low power control beam is used to adapt the hysteresis response and the switching of optically bistable elements, is shown to occur in various systems with a bichromatic input. Some applications of this are suggested for more complex logic gates and for pattern recognition.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Mar 10, 1988•1 citation
It is shown that a simple system without a cavity exhibits optical bistability with no hysteresis but with symmetry-breaking or pitchfork bifurcation. The optical system is composed of a cell containing atoms with spin in the ground state, a $\frac{\ensuremath{\lambda}}{8}$ plate and a mirror, and an incident light beam linearly polarized and nearly resonant with the atomic absorption line. The system has a positive-feedback loop for the rotation of polarization through competitive optical pumping by ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$ circularly polarized components. When the intensity of the incident light exceeds a critical value, symmetry breaking occurs and its polarization is subject to rotation in the clockwise or anticlockwise sense. Correspondingly, atomic spin polarization is produced spontaneously in a direction parallel or antiparallel to the incident beam. This new type of optical bistability is found to be explained well in context with the cusp catastrophe, as well as the ordinary one with hysteresis. It is also found that, in the presence of a transverse magnetic field, self-sustained spin precession occurs, which results in the steady-state modulation of the light polarization at about the Larmor frequency. Experimental evidence of the symmetry breaking and pitchfork bifurcation is obtained by using sodium vapor.
The nonlinear optical properties of many materials and devices have been the main object of research as potential candidates for sensing in different places. Just one of these properties has been, in most of the cases, the basis for the sensing operation. As a consequence, just one parameter can be detected. In this paper, although just one property will be employed too, we will show the possibility to sense different parameters with just one type of sensor. The way adopted in this work is the use of the optical bistability obtained from different photonic structures. Because this optical bistability has a strong dependence on many different parameters the possibility to sense different inputs appears. In our case, we will report the use of some non-linear optical devices, mainly Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers, as sensing elements. Because their outputs depend on many parameters, as the incident light wavelength, polarization, intensity and direction, applied voltage and feedback characteristics, they can be employed to detect, at the same time, different type of signals. This is because the way these different signals affect to the sensor response is very different too and appears under a different set of characteristics.