The Theory and Experiment of AN Optical Device Exhibiting Bistability and Differential Gain.

H. M. Gibbs, S. L. McCall, Thirumalai Venkatesan

Reuven Kuszelewicz

Hubert Jerominek, Claude A. Delisle, J. Y. D. Pomerleau +1 more

Optical bistability experiments have been performed using an integrated acoustooptic modulator by making use of a surface acoustic-wave delay line in the feedback loop. Different experimental results are reported, including optical hysteresis, differential gain, and oscillatory behaviour. Possible modifications of the acoustooptic integrated bistable device are also proposed.

P. W. E. Smith, E. H. Turner

We propose and demonstrate the operation of a novel bistable optical device that exhibits differential gain and can function as an optical switch, limiter, or optical memory element.

Ewan M. Wright

David A. B. Miller, Arthur C. Gossard, W. Wiegmann

It is shown theoretically that optical bistability will exist in a material whose optical absorption is more than linearly proportional to the degree to which the material is excited. No cavity or external feedback is required. The underlying principle of this bistability appears to be a generalization of several previous independent discussions of mirrorless bistabilities in specific physical systems. This bistability and associated differential gain are demonstrated experimentally using a thermal nonlinearity in a GaAs/GaAlAs multiple-quantum-well semiconductor. Theory and experiment show good agreement.