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Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics

Optical bistability

Yu. N. Ovchinnikov, Israel Michael Sigal

Published Nov 1, 2001• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We consider the problem of the wave propagation through a nonlinear medium. We derive a dynamic system that governs the behavior of standing (or solitary) waves. The form of this system alone suffices to understand the qualitative dependence of solutions of the original equation on the intensity of the incident wave. We solve this dynamical system in the leading order in the nonlinearity strength. We find multiple solutions of the original problem for a given incoming wave and turning points of these solutions as a function of the wave intensity. We briefly investigate stability of different branches. Our results yield an analytic description of the optical bistability phenomenon.

DOI
10.1134/1.1427112

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