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 Express

Optical bistability based on hyperbolic metamaterials

Myunghwan Kim, Sangin Kim, Soeun Kim

Published Apr 20, 2018• 36 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We numerically demonstrate optical bistability in a nonlinear multilayer structure by utilizing the unique dispersion of hyperbolic metamaterials. The linear transmission is varied sharply with topological transition of isofrequency contour of the multilayer structure, and this non-resonant scheme enables realization of optical bistability with a short response time and a relatively low switching intensity. We have investigated exhaustively all possible topological transitions in the dispersion characteristics of the multilayer structure for optical bistability, and shown that the hyperbolic metamaterial (HMM) type transition from Type II to Type I, and the transition from Type II HMM to effective dielectric are suitable for realizing high-performances optical bistability. The proposed schemes can overcome the trade-off between a switching intensity and a response time in resonance based optical bistabilities.

DOI
10.1364/oe.26.011620

Related papers

Optical bistability in reflection from multilayer metal-dielectric structure with Kerr nonlinearity

Svitlana G. Ilchenko, Ruslan A. Lymarenko, V. B. Taranenko

Both static and dynamic characteristics of light reflected from a specially designed multilayer metal-dielectric structure with Kerr nonlinearity have been studied in this work. Various regimes of nonlinear reflection from the structure have been demonstrated, including bistable switching between low and high reflection states, which occurs at low intensity of the incident light due to a significant enhancement in the optical field in the nonlinear layer under conditions of total internal reflection. This nonlinear structure has been proposed to use as an optically controlled intracavity laser modulator.

Semiconductor Physics Quantum Electronics & Optoelectronics•Mar 9, 2021•1 citation

Optical bistability involving planar metamaterials with broken structural symmetry

Vladimir R. Tuz, S. L. Prosvirnin, Liudmyla A. Kochetova

We report on a bistable light transmission through a planar metamaterial composed of a metal pattern of weakly asymmetric elements placed on a nonlinear substrate. Such structure bears the Fano-type sharp resonance response of a trapped-mode excitation. The feedback required for bistability is provided by the coupling between the strong antiphased trapped-mode-resonance currents excited on the metal elements and the intensity of inner field in the nonlinear substrate.

arXiv:1009.0111•Physical Review B•Dec 10, 2010•44 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

Enhancement of optical bistability by periodic layering

Roberto Camassa, M. Gregory Forest, Robert E. Knapp

The authors study analytically and numerically the effect of a periodic perturbation in the index of refraction of a nonlinear optical medium. Using a one-dimensional model for monochromatic waves incident on the medium, they find that near resonance between the perturbation and the modulation of the electric field there can be a significant enhancement of optical bistability in the low intensity regime. In particular, they discuss in detail the case of the primary resonance, which is responsible for the most significant effects, and show how one can optimize the bistability curve for the implementation of an optical switch, based on the information provided by the resonance structure.

Nonlinearity•May 1, 1992•1 citation

Ultralow switching threshold optical bistable devices based on epsilon-near-zero Ga2O3-SiC-Ag multilayer structures

Shengrun Hu, Xueqiang Ji, Jinjin Wang +3 more

Optical bistability has attracted much attention due to its enormous potential applications in all-optical operation and signal processing. However, the weak nonlinear responses typically require huge pump power to reach the threshold of the optical bistability, thus hindering the real applications. In this study, we propose an efficient optical bistable metamaterial, which is composed of multilayer Ga2O3-SiC-Ag metal-dielectric nanostructures. We not only use the epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) with SiC-Ag thin layers to enhance the substantial field, but also incorporate the SiC material to increase its significant optical nonlinear coefficient. In the structural design, the introduction of Ga2O3 layer facilitates the light field concentration, contributing to the further reduction in threshold power for optical bistability, and also conducing to the improvement of the physical and chemical stability of the device. The influences of the thickness and length of the ENZ layer on the optical bistability are systematically investigated by using the finite element method. The results demonstrate that optical bistability becomes more pronounced with the increase of the thickness and length of ENZ layer, exhibiting a bistability switching threshold as low as ~10–6 W/cm2 in the telecommunication band. Comparing with the previously reported optical bistability based on ENZ mechanism, the threshold shows a significant reduction by 9 orders of magnitude, demonstrating great application potential in the fields of semiconductor devices and photonic integrated circuits.

Acta Physica Sinica•Dec 8, 2023•1 citation

Electromagnetic-resonance-induced optical response of a thin nonlinear dielectric film

R. Reinisch, Guy Vitrant

We show that the optical response of a nonlinear dielectric film may exhibit optical bistability even in the thin-film limit. Using a rigorous numerical treatment, we also show that the resonant excitation of nonlinear guided modes propagating along the film leads to switching intensities ${10}^{4}$ times lower than those obtained with use of the resonances associated with the Airy function.

Physical review. B, Condensed matter•Mar 15, 1989•11 citations
We numerically demonstrate optical bistability in a nonlinear multilayer structure by utilizing the unique dispersion of hyperbolic metamaterials. The linear transmission is varied sharply with topological transition of isofrequency contour of the multilayer structure, and this non-resonant scheme enables realization of optical bistability with a short response time and a relatively low switching intensity. We have investigated exhaustively all possible topological transitions in the dispersion characteristics of the multilayer structure for optical bistability, and shown that the hyperbolic metamaterial (HMM) type transition from Type II to Type I, and the transition from Type II HMM to effective dielectric are suitable for realizing high-performances optical bistability. The proposed schemes can overcome the trade-off between a switching intensity and a response time in resonance based optical bistabilities.
Both static and dynamic characteristics of light reflected from a specially designed multilayer metal-dielectric structure with Kerr nonlinearity have been studied in this work. Various regimes of nonlinear reflection from the structure have been demonstrated, including bistable switching between low and high reflection states, which occurs at low intensity of the incident light due to a significant enhancement in the optical field in the nonlinear layer under conditions of total internal reflection. This nonlinear structure has been proposed to use as an optically controlled intracavity laser modulator.
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.
The authors study analytically and numerically the effect of a periodic perturbation in the index of refraction of a nonlinear optical medium. Using a one-dimensional model for monochromatic waves incident on the medium, they find that near resonance between the perturbation and the modulation of the electric field there can be a significant enhancement of optical bistability in the low intensity regime. In particular, they discuss in detail the case of the primary resonance, which is responsible for the most significant effects, and show how one can optimize the bistability curve for the implementation of an optical switch, based on the information provided by the resonance structure.
Optical bistability has attracted much attention due to its enormous potential applications in all-optical operation and signal processing. However, the weak nonlinear responses typically require huge pump power to reach the threshold of the optical bistability, thus hindering the real applications. In this study, we propose an efficient optical bistable metamaterial, which is composed of multilayer Ga2O3-SiC-Ag metal-dielectric nanostructures. We not only use the epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) with SiC-Ag thin layers to enhance the substantial field, but also incorporate the SiC material to increase its significant optical nonlinear coefficient. In the structural design, the introduction of Ga2O3 layer facilitates the light field concentration, contributing to the further reduction in threshold power for optical bistability, and also conducing to the improvement of the physical and chemical stability of the device. The influences of the thickness and length of the ENZ layer on the optical bistability are systematically investigated by using the finite element method. The results demonstrate that optical bistability becomes more pronounced with the increase of the thickness and length of ENZ layer, exhibiting a bistability switching threshold as low as ~10–6 W/cm2 in the telecommunication band. Comparing with the previously reported optical bistability based on ENZ mechanism, the threshold shows a significant reduction by 9 orders of magnitude, demonstrating great application potential in the fields of semiconductor devices and photonic integrated circuits.
We show that the optical response of a nonlinear dielectric film may exhibit optical bistability even in the thin-film limit. Using a rigorous numerical treatment, we also show that the resonant excitation of nonlinear guided modes propagating along the film leads to switching intensities 104{10}^{4}104 times lower than those obtained with use of the resonances associated with the Airy function.