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

AIP conference proceedings

Optical bistability switching with external noise

E. Arimondo, Didier Dangoisse, Leone Fronzoni, O. Incani, N. K. Rahman

Published Jan 1, 1987• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In a bistable system the switching time between the off and the on states is a measure of noise and fluctuations. For a CO2 laser containing a molecular absorber, the distribution of the switching times has been measured at different noise levels in the control parameter. The first passage time from the Fokker‐Planck equation has been compared to the experiment.

DOI
10.1063/1.36723

Related papers

Optical bistability switching with external noise

E. Arimondo, Didier Dangoisse, Leone Fronzoni +2 more

In an optically bistable system the switching time, i.e., the time required to switch the system between the off and on states, is a sensitive measure of noise and fluctuations. For a control parameter close to the threshold of the bistable operation, the critical slowing down takes place and large fluctuations in the switching times are originated.

International Laser Science Conference•Jan 1, 1986•1 citation

Dynamic behavior of bistability in a laser with a saturable absorber

E. Arimondo, Didier Dangoisse, C. Gabbanini +2 more

Optical bistability in a CO2 infrared laser containing SF6 as a saturable intracavity absorber has been studied under dynamic conditions as a function of a time-dependent laser control parameter. The width of the optical bistability region, the fluctuations in the bistability switching values, and the dependence on the initial conditions have been investigated in this transient optical bistability. A numerical solution of the laser rate equations provides a good interpretation of the experimental results, but some experimental observations cannot be completely explained.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Jun 1, 1987•31 citations

Transient noise-induced optical bistability

G. Broggi, L. A. Lugiato

We solve numerically the simplest Fokker-Planck equation which describes the effects of amplitude noise in absorbitive optical bistability. When the semiclassical solution exhibits critical slowing down, the probability distribution becomes two-peaked in a sizable time interval during the approach to the one-peaked steady-state distribution. The switching time undergoes considerable fluctuations, and on the average it is shorter than predicted by semiclassical theory. These noise effects seem accessible to experimental observation.

Physical Review A•May 1, 1984•48 citations

Fluctuations in Optical Bistability: Experiment with Shot Noise

S. L. McCall, Seth Ovadia, H. M. Gibbs +2 more

The behavior of an optical bistable system in which the fluctuations play the dominant role has been studied on the basis of a Fokker-Planck description by Schenzle and Brand.1 However, all the analyses so far approximate the fluctuations as arising from a constant external noise source described by a δ-correlated, Gaussian random process.2,3 In this paper intensity-dependent shot noise fluctuations of a bistable system are experimentally studied for the first time, using a hybrid bistable optical device, and analyzed by a simple “ladder" model that fits the data well.

Topical Meeting on Optical Bistability (OB)•Jan 1, 1983•0 citations

Precise Measurements of Bistability in a CO2 Laser with Intracavity Saturable Absorber

E. Arimondo, Bianca Maria Dinelli, E. Menehi

Optical bistability in a laser with an intracavity saturable absorber is a phenomenon theoretically investigated firstly by Lugiato et al(1). The experimental observations in CO2 lasers(2,3) have provided clear evidence of the bistability phenomenon and shown that the absorber parameters could be determined from these observations. In this work a quantitative comparison between a theoretical description of optical bistability and the experimental results is presented for the first time. The parameters defining the laser cavity and the CO2 amplifying medium were measured carefully, and the bistability was observed and analyzed quantitatively as a function of the laser parameters.

Topical Meeting on Optical Bistability (OB)•Jan 1, 1983•0 citations

Absorptive Optical Bistability with Laser Amplitude Fluctuations

Marek Kuś, K. Wódkiewicz, Jason A. C. Gallas

In this paper we discuss the influence of laser fluctuations on the hysteresis cycle in Optical Bistability. For the simplest case of an Absorptive Optical Bistability in a good cavity driven by an external laser light with non-white Gaussian amplitude fluctuations we derive a Fokker-Planck equation in the limit of large laser linewidth and good amplitude stabilization. This Fokker-Planck equation has a nonconstant diffusion term which shifts the most probable values of the steady state probability distribution from its deterministic positions. From the form of the steady state solution of the Fokker-Planck equation with non-white amplitude fluctuations we discuss the relative stability of the bistable branches. As in the case of quantum fluctuations the random amplitude of the laser field leads to a small range of values of the injected laser intensity in which the two bistable peaks have a comparable area. The transmitted field averaged with respect to the stationary distribution function coincides with one of the two deterministic branches except on the narrow transition region where we have large fluctuations.

Topical Meeting on Optical Bistability (OB)•Jan 1, 1983•0 citations
In a bistable system the switching time between the off and the on states is a measure of noise and fluctuations. For a CO2 laser containing a molecular absorber, the distribution of the switching times has been measured at different noise levels in the control parameter. The first passage time from the Fokker‐Planck equation has been compared to the experiment.
Optical bistability in a CO2 infrared laser containing SF6 as a saturable intracavity absorber has been studied under dynamic conditions as a function of a time-dependent laser control parameter. The width of the optical bistability region, the fluctuations in the bistability switching values, and the dependence on the initial conditions have been investigated in this transient optical bistability. A numerical solution of the laser rate equations provides a good interpretation of the experimental results, but some experimental observations cannot be completely explained.
We solve numerically the simplest Fokker-Planck equation which describes the effects of amplitude noise in absorbitive optical bistability. When the semiclassical solution exhibits critical slowing down, the probability distribution becomes two-peaked in a sizable time interval during the approach to the one-peaked steady-state distribution. The switching time undergoes considerable fluctuations, and on the average it is shorter than predicted by semiclassical theory. These noise effects seem accessible to experimental observation.
The behavior of an optical bistable system in which the fluctuations play the dominant role has been studied on the basis of a Fokker-Planck description by Schenzle and Brand.1 However, all the analyses so far approximate the fluctuations as arising from a constant external noise source described by a δ-correlated, Gaussian random process.2,3 In this paper intensity-dependent shot noise fluctuations of a bistable system are experimentally studied for the first time, using a hybrid bistable optical device, and analyzed by a simple “ladder" model that fits the data well.
Optical bistability in a laser with an intracavity saturable absorber is a phenomenon theoretically investigated firstly by Lugiato et al(1). The experimental observations in CO2 lasers(2,3) have provided clear evidence of the bistability phenomenon and shown that the absorber parameters could be determined from these observations. In this work a quantitative comparison between a theoretical description of optical bistability and the experimental results is presented for the first time. The parameters defining the laser cavity and the CO2 amplifying medium were measured carefully, and the bistability was observed and analyzed quantitatively as a function of the laser parameters.
In this paper we discuss the influence of laser fluctuations on the hysteresis cycle in Optical Bistability. For the simplest case of an Absorptive Optical Bistability in a good cavity driven by an external laser light with non-white Gaussian amplitude fluctuations we derive a Fokker-Planck equation in the limit of large laser linewidth and good amplitude stabilization. This Fokker-Planck equation has a nonconstant diffusion term which shifts the most probable values of the steady state probability distribution from its deterministic positions. From the form of the steady state solution of the Fokker-Planck equation with non-white amplitude fluctuations we discuss the relative stability of the bistable branches. As in the case of quantum fluctuations the random amplitude of the laser field leads to a small range of values of the injected laser intensity in which the two bistable peaks have a comparable area. The transmitted field averaged with respect to the stationary distribution function coincides with one of the two deterministic branches except on the narrow transition region where we have large fluctuations.