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Topical Meeting on Optical Bistability (OB)

Light-Induced Nonreciprocity: Directional Optical Bistability; Spectroscopy of Induced Anisotropy; Nonlinear Sagnac Effect

A. E. Kaplan

Published Jan 1, 1983• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In our recent research1, it was suggested that counter-propagating laser beams in a Kerr-nonlinear medium can induce intensity-dependent nonreciprocity which consists in different changes of refractive indecies for both of the waves. Under some conditions, this can result in such directionally asymmetrical effects as (i) directional bistability in a nonlinear ring resonator which allows one to switch the direction of propagation of a dominant mode and (ii) enhancement of the Sagnac effect in a rotating ring resonator.

DOI
10.1364/obi.1983.fb3

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In our recent research1, it was suggested that counter-propagating laser beams in a Kerr-nonlinear medium can induce intensity-dependent nonreciprocity which consists in different changes of refractive indecies for both of the waves. Under some conditions, this can result in such directionally asymmetrical effects as (i) directional bistability in a nonlinear ring resonator which allows one to switch the direction of propagation of a dominant mode and (ii) enhancement of the Sagnac effect in a rotating ring resonator.
Abstract : A substantial enhancement (by orders of magnitude) of the Sagnac effect in a passive ring resonator can be attained by using a nonreciprocal feedback. This feedback is based on the nonreciprocal element controlled by the signal proportional to the difference between intensities of counterpropagating waves, and is an opto-electronic analog of nonlinear nonreciprocity proposed by us early. Under some critical conditions, this system can exhibit directional bistability and directional switching of the counterpropagating waves. (Author)
A substantial enhancement (by orders of magnitude) of the Sagnac effect in a passive ring resonator can be attained by using a nonreciprocal feedback. This feedback is based on the nonreciprocal element controlled by the signal proportional to the difference between intensities of counterpropagating waves, and is an optoelectronic analog of nonlinear nonreciprocity proposed by us earlier. Under some critical conditions, this system can exhibit directional bistability and directional switching of the counterpropagating waves.
The mutual interaction of counterpropagating waves in a ring resonator containing a medium with second-order dispersive nonlinearity is studied. The theoretical treatment of nonreciprocal propagation is based upon the novel coupling of counterpropagating and mode-locked first- and second-harmonic waves. The experimentally observed transfer characteristics of a high-frequency model system reveal a directionally asymmetric bistability. This nonreciprocity can also be attributed in the time domain to the occurrence of dissipative structures, i.e., to solitons traveling within the resonator.
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 show that nonreciprocal optical solitons that are immune to backscattering-induced losses appear in a spinning optical Kerr resonator. Nonreciprocity in this device results from the Sagnac-Fiezau drag effect, which is different for pump fields propagating in the spinning direction or in the direction opposite to it. We find that these nonreciprocal solitons are more robust against backscattering losses if the spinning speed of the resonator is properly set. Our work represents a stable nonreciprocal soliton device and provides a promising technique for one-way soliton isolators and lasers, backaction-immmune soliton communication, and enhanced soliton-comb metrology.
Two input beams at the same frequency excite the counter-propagating modes of a bidirectional ring cavity. These modes are coupled in the presence of a homogeneously broadened nonlinear medium and the optical device acts as two bistable switches whose characteristics can be mutually controlled. After a proper account of interference between the forward and backward waves, new features of optical bistability in a bidirectional ring cavity are discussed. It is found that when the intensity of one of the incident beams is held fixed in a critical range, the device switches on but never switches off as the intensity of the other beam is first increased and then decreased to zero.