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

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE

Optical Bistability In Random Glassy Polymers

A. F. Garito, Jeong Weon Wu

Published Jan 15, 1990• 7 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Optical bistability is the quantum optical realization of a first order phase transition far from equilibrium. A resonant nonlinear optical response of it-electron excitations in low dimensional structures provides the nonlinearity essential to the onset of bistability. Saturable absorption studies of glassy polymer films consisting of quasi two-dimensional conjugated disc-like structures of silicon naphthalocyanine demonstrate that on-resonance the system behaves as an optical Bloch system with an intensity dependent refractive index n2 of 1x10-4 cm2/kW in the wavelength range of standard laser diodes. Based on this result, electronic absorptive optical bistability is observed on a nanosecond time scale in a nonlinear Fabry-Perot interferometer employing the saturably absorbing naphthalocyanine film as the nonlinear optical medium.

DOI
10.1117/12.962102

Related papers

Resonant nonlinear optical processes in lower-dimensional electronic systems

Jeong Weon Wu

Optical bistability is a quantum optical realization of a first order phase transition far from equilibrium. A nonlinear optical material contained in an optical cavity driven resonantly by an external coherent optical field undergoes a first order phase transition to a new nonequilibrium stationary state of broken symmetry. Resonant and nonresonant nonlinear optical response of $\\pi$-electron excitations in conjugated electronic structure provides the nonlinearity essential to the onset of bistability. Electronic correlation effects in reduced dimensions are responsible for nonresonant nonlinear optical responses. Saturable absorption studies of glassy polymer films consisting of quasi-two dimensional conjugated disc-like structure of silicon naphthalocyanine demonstrate that on-resonance the system behaves as an optical Bloch system with an intensity dependent refractive index of 1 $\\times$ 10$\\sp{-4}$ cm$\\sp2$/kW. Based on the results of these studies, electronic absorptive optical bistability is observed on a nanosecond time scale in a nonlinear Fabry-Perot interferometer employing the saturable absorbing silicon naphthalocyanine film as the nonlinear optical medium.

•Jan 1, 1989•0 citations

Optical bistability in Langmuir-Blodgett films of phthalocyanine derivatives on reflection

De Z. Shen, Yajun Li, Xiwu Fan +1 more

Saturating absorption and optical bistability (OB) with ns switching time in Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of phthalocyanines derivatives on reflection have been studied at room temperature (RT) in the near ultraviolet region for the first time. The saturating intensity (Is) and switching intensity for the OB at 337.1 nm are about 1 MW/cm2 and 5 MW/cm2, respectively. The experimental results show that the major nonlinear and positive feedback mechanisms for the OB are the change of refractive index caused by the saturating absorption and the simple F-P cavity due to the natural faces of the sample, respectively.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Oct 28, 1992•1 citation

Intrinsic optical bistability in doped polymer

H. Soufi, Hamid Pashaei Adl, M.H. Majles Ara +1 more

One of the most interesting and applicable effects of nonlinear optics is optical bistability. This phenomenon is exhibited by certain resonant optical structures where it is possible to have two stable steady transmission states for the device, depending on the history of the input. Such a bistable device may be useful for optical computing elements as a result of its memory characteristics. Optical bistability behaviour is usually observed by inserting a nonlinear matter inside a Fabry–Perot interferometer. But in this study, it was shown that this can be achieved without the application of any optical resonator. Two laser beams were used to interact with the photorefractive media (doped PMMA polymer) which resulted in the bistability of the intensity of transmitted wave. Feedback was provided by a periodic grating created in the photorefractive polymer PMMA.

Journal of Modern Optics•Feb 7, 2017•3 citations

Optical Bistability

Partha P. Banerjee

In the last chapter, we examined the effect of cubic nonlinearity on selfrefraction of an optical beam. We have also seen that the presence of a quadratic nonlinearity can also contribute to change in the profile of a Gaussian beam in a crystal. In this chapter we will see how the effect of nonlinearity, alongwith the proper feedback, can give rise to optical bistability and hysteresis. This is not unexpected as hysteresis and bistability are also observed in nonlinear electronic circuits with feedback, such as in the Schmitt trigger, as well as in hybrid optical devices, such as an acoustooptic device with feedback (Banerjee and Poon, 1991). In what follows, we will examine two different types of optically bistable devices based on optical nonlinearities. The first is a nonlinear ring resonator comprising a two-level gain medium as the nonlinear element. We will treat both absorptive and dispersive bistability. Absorptive bistability is the case when the incident optical frequency is close to or equal to the transition frequency of the atoms from one level to another. In this case, the absorption coefficient becomes a nonlinear function of the incident intensity. On the other hand, if the frequencies are far apart, the medium behaves like a Kerr-type material and the system exhibits what is called dispersive bistability. In this case the material can be modeled by an effective n2 or v (3), meaning that the refractive index becomes a nonlinear function of the optical intensity. The second configurationwewill examine is a linear-nonlinear interface. In this case, the interface provides the feedback due to refractive index mismatch. In fact, the reflection coefficient (as well as the transmission coefficient) is modified due to the nonlinearity, which, as we shall see later, is responsible for demonstrating optical switching and bistability.

Nonlinear Optics•Dec 4, 2003•0 citations

All-optical bistable band-edge Bloch modes in a two-dimensional photonic crystal

Alejandro M. Yacomotti, Fabrice Raineri, G. Vecchi +9 more

We demonstrate experimentally all-optical bistable operation in an InP-based two-dimensional photonic crystal slab lying on top of a Bragg reflector. Bistability is obtained around 1550nm, using a low group velocity mode at the band edge of the photonic dispersion characteristic. The origin of the bistable regime is shown to be the fast (275ps relaxation time), electronically induced nonlinear refraction index. A low intensity threshold of 4kW∕cm2 was observed, with a contrast of 65% between the high and low reflectivity states.

Applied Physics Letters•Jun 5, 2006•59 citations

Laser induced optical bistability in MgPc dye

Anil Kumar, Devendra Mohan, Arun Kumar Gupta

In the present work, optical bistability using a Fabry-Perot cavity containing MgPc dye dissolved in toluene of different concentrations have been experimentally investigated by using a single mode Q-switched nanosecond Nd:YAG laser operating at ~532nm.The nonlinear refractive index n2 is numerically estimated from the bistabe loop and found to be in close approximations with the previously reported values.The nature of the bistable loop depicts the reverse saturable absorption (RSA) process in the medium under study.Absorptive type bistability is found to be predominant over dispersive bistability.

Chemical Biology Letters•Jan 4, 2017•0 citations
Optical bistability is the quantum optical realization of a first order phase transition far from equilibrium. A resonant nonlinear optical response of it-electron excitations in low dimensional structures provides the nonlinearity essential to the onset of bistability. Saturable absorption studies of glassy polymer films consisting of quasi two-dimensional conjugated disc-like structures of silicon naphthalocyanine demonstrate that on-resonance the system behaves as an optical Bloch system with an intensity dependent refractive index n2 of 1x10-4 cm2/kW in the wavelength range of standard laser diodes. Based on this result, electronic absorptive optical bistability is observed on a nanosecond time scale in a nonlinear Fabry-Perot interferometer employing the saturably absorbing naphthalocyanine film as the nonlinear optical medium.
Optical bistability is a quantum optical realization of a first order phase transition far from equilibrium. A nonlinear optical material contained in an optical cavity driven resonantly by an external coherent optical field undergoes a first order phase transition to a new nonequilibrium stationary state of broken symmetry. Resonant and nonresonant nonlinear optical response of pi\\pipi-electron excitations in conjugated electronic structure provides the nonlinearity essential to the onset of bistability. Electronic correlation effects in reduced dimensions are responsible for nonresonant nonlinear optical responses. Saturable absorption studies of glassy polymer films consisting of quasi-two dimensional conjugated disc-like structure of silicon naphthalocyanine demonstrate that on-resonance the system behaves as an optical Bloch system with an intensity dependent refractive index of 1 times\\timestimes 10sp−4\\sp{-4}sp−4 cmsp2\\sp2sp2/kW. Based on the results of these studies, electronic absorptive optical bistability is observed on a nanosecond time scale in a nonlinear Fabry-Perot interferometer employing the saturable absorbing silicon naphthalocyanine film as the nonlinear optical medium.
Saturating absorption and optical bistability (OB) with ns switching time in Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of phthalocyanines derivatives on reflection have been studied at room temperature (RT) in the near ultraviolet region for the first time. The saturating intensity (Is) and switching intensity for the OB at 337.1 nm are about 1 MW/cm2 and 5 MW/cm2, respectively. The experimental results show that the major nonlinear and positive feedback mechanisms for the OB are the change of refractive index caused by the saturating absorption and the simple F-P cavity due to the natural faces of the sample, respectively.
One of the most interesting and applicable effects of nonlinear optics is optical bistability. This phenomenon is exhibited by certain resonant optical structures where it is possible to have two stable steady transmission states for the device, depending on the history of the input. Such a bistable device may be useful for optical computing elements as a result of its memory characteristics. Optical bistability behaviour is usually observed by inserting a nonlinear matter inside a Fabry–Perot interferometer. But in this study, it was shown that this can be achieved without the application of any optical resonator. Two laser beams were used to interact with the photorefractive media (doped PMMA polymer) which resulted in the bistability of the intensity of transmitted wave. Feedback was provided by a periodic grating created in the photorefractive polymer PMMA.
In the last chapter, we examined the effect of cubic nonlinearity on selfrefraction of an optical beam. We have also seen that the presence of a quadratic nonlinearity can also contribute to change in the profile of a Gaussian beam in a crystal. In this chapter we will see how the effect of nonlinearity, alongwith the proper feedback, can give rise to optical bistability and hysteresis. This is not unexpected as hysteresis and bistability are also observed in nonlinear electronic circuits with feedback, such as in the Schmitt trigger, as well as in hybrid optical devices, such as an acoustooptic device with feedback (Banerjee and Poon, 1991). In what follows, we will examine two different types of optically bistable devices based on optical nonlinearities. The first is a nonlinear ring resonator comprising a two-level gain medium as the nonlinear element. We will treat both absorptive and dispersive bistability. Absorptive bistability is the case when the incident optical frequency is close to or equal to the transition frequency of the atoms from one level to another. In this case, the absorption coefficient becomes a nonlinear function of the incident intensity. On the other hand, if the frequencies are far apart, the medium behaves like a Kerr-type material and the system exhibits what is called dispersive bistability. In this case the material can be modeled by an effective n2 or v (3), meaning that the refractive index becomes a nonlinear function of the optical intensity. The second configurationwewill examine is a linear-nonlinear interface. In this case, the interface provides the feedback due to refractive index mismatch. In fact, the reflection coefficient (as well as the transmission coefficient) is modified due to the nonlinearity, which, as we shall see later, is responsible for demonstrating optical switching and bistability.
We demonstrate experimentally all-optical bistable operation in an InP-based two-dimensional photonic crystal slab lying on top of a Bragg reflector. Bistability is obtained around 1550nm, using a low group velocity mode at the band edge of the photonic dispersion characteristic. The origin of the bistable regime is shown to be the fast (275ps relaxation time), electronically induced nonlinear refraction index. A low intensity threshold of 4kW∕cm2 was observed, with a contrast of 65% between the high and low reflectivity states.
In the present work, optical bistability using a Fabry-Perot cavity containing MgPc dye dissolved in toluene of different concentrations have been experimentally investigated by using a single mode Q-switched nanosecond Nd:YAG laser operating at ~532nm.The nonlinear refractive index n2 is numerically estimated from the bistabe loop and found to be in close approximations with the previously reported values.The nature of the bistable loop depicts the reverse saturable absorption (RSA) process in the medium under study.Absorptive type bistability is found to be predominant over dispersive bistability.