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Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics

Triode operation of an intrinsic optical bistable device

Noriaki Tsukada, Takashi Nakayama

Published Jan 1, 1981• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

This paper points out new effects that can occur In triode operation of an optical bistable device. Triode operation in the optical gating of a signal beam by a control beam has been demonstrated using a GaAs-GaAlAs trilayer sandwich.1 However, the theoretical analysis for the triode operation has not yet been reported. We show theoretically that the properties of the medium and, hence, the transmission of the signal beam (ωS) through a Fabry-Perot cavity are strongly modified by a control beam (ωc) which changes the dielectric susceptibility of the intracavity medium. Amplification of the signal beam due to the three-photon effect2 and multistability attributed to the saturation of the multiphoton transition processes3,4 are predicted.

DOI
10.1364/cleo.1981.fe3

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Optimum Control Beam Angle for a Biased Fabry-Perot Bistable Device

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The use of bistable Fabry-Perot devices as multi-port cascadable devices has been frequently discussed in the literature (1-3). It has been envisaged that such devices could be addressed by a number of bias and control beams each approaching the device at a different angle (fig. 1). However, if these devices are to be cascadable, the same wavelength of light must be used for all control and bias beams. In this situation the control beam intensities inside the devices will be determined by the amplification effects of the cavity. Their behaviour will differ from that of the bias beam as the different incident angles produce additional phase changes. It has been shown that these additional phase changes give rise to bistable switching as the incident angle of the beam is changed (4) and this behaviour is demonstrated experimentally.

•Jan 1, 1987•0 citations
This paper points out new effects that can occur In triode operation of an optical bistable device. Triode operation in the optical gating of a signal beam by a control beam has been demonstrated using a GaAs-GaAlAs trilayer sandwich.1 However, the theoretical analysis for the triode operation has not yet been reported. We show theoretically that the properties of the medium and, hence, the transmission of the signal beam (ωS) through a Fabry-Perot cavity are strongly modified by a control beam (ωc) which changes the dielectric susceptibility of the intracavity medium. Amplification of the signal beam due to the three-photon effect2 and multistability attributed to the saturation of the multiphoton transition processes3,4 are predicted.
A theory of modulation of optical bistability of a main (signal) beam by an additional (control) beam is presented. It is supposed that the mirrors composing a Fabry-Perot cavity are highly reflective to the signal beam but transparent to the control beam. We show that the property of a medium in the cavity, and hence the transmission of the signal beam through the cavity, is modulated by the control beam which changes the dielectric susceptibility of the intracavity medium. Amplification of the signal beam occurs in the limit of a strong control beam. The process can be viewed as a parametric transfer of energy between the signal beam and the control beam with the nonlinear medium providing the nonlinear susceptibility that couples the beams. In addition, multibistability in the transmission characteristics of the signal beam is predicted and attributed to the saturation effect of the multiphoton processes.
This article describes the application of one type of optical bistable device based on gallium arsenide as the nonlinear medium. The authors discuss several possible operations with GaAs nonlinear Fabry-Perot etalons. This article utilizes a recently developed computer model to illustrate the basic operating principles and applications. The authors mainly concentrate on the device operation itself. In keeping with common practice they use the term optical bistable device when referring to a device that can exhibit optical bistability even when not being used in such a manner. Instead of the expression nonlinear Fabry-Perot etalon, they often use nonlinear etalons or etalon devices.
We report the observation of optical stability for a plane parallel semiconductor crystal which forms a Fabry-Perot interferometer using only the natural reflectivity of its surfaces. Nonlinear transmission is observed for cw laser intensities above ∼ 100 W/cm2 for radiation at 1895 cm−1 near the energy gap of InSb at 5 K. The effect is interpreted in terms of a very large intensity-dependent refractive index giving a 5λ/2 optical thickness change for an intensity of ∼2 kW/cm2. Clear bistability is seen in fifth-order interference, the first such observation above first order in an intrinsic, one-element system, in addition to regions exhibiting signal amplification. The same crystal also shows strong modulation of the transmission of one laser beam induced by a second, with real signal gain, thus demonstrating an ’’optical transistor.’’
The use of bistable Fabry-Perot devices as multi-port cascadable devices has been frequently discussed in the literature (1-3). It has been envisaged that such devices could be addressed by a number of bias and control beams each approaching the device at a different angle (fig. 1). However, if these devices are to be cascadable, the same wavelength of light must be used for all control and bias beams. In this situation the control beam intensities inside the devices will be determined by the amplification effects of the cavity. Their behaviour will differ from that of the bias beam as the different incident angles produce additional phase changes. It has been shown that these additional phase changes give rise to bistable switching as the incident angle of the beam is changed (4) and this behaviour is demonstrated experimentally.