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

Oxford University Press eBooks

Optical Bistability

Guang S. He

Published Oct 30, 2014• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

When the output parameter of an optical device could be a multivalued function of the input parameter, this device can be working in an optical bistable status. The most typical optical bistable device is a Fabry–Perot cavity containing a nonlinear optical medium, the refractive index of which depends on the light intensity. Upon the action of an intense input optical beam, the transmitted (or reflected) intensity of this device may exhibit a nonlinear response to the incident light intensity variation and, especially under appropriate working conditions, the characteristic output/input curve may manifest a single (or multiple) hysteresis loop(s). Such type of optical bistable device can be used as an optical differential amplifier, optical switch, optical limiter, optical clipper, optical discriminator, or an optical memory element, depending on the chosen nonlinear medium and operation conditions.

DOI
10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198702764.003.0011

Related papers

Pit Bistable optical devices: physical processes and practical applications

David A. B. Miller

Optical bistability (OB) can be defined as the existence of two stable states for one set of optical input conditions. It can be seen in many different systems which generally combine some microscopic nonlinearity (e.g., intensity-dependent refractive index) with some macroscopic feedback (e.g., a Fabry-Perot cavity). OB shows not only hysteresis but also switching transitions. By adjusting the degree of feedback various related effects are also possible (e.g., optical limiters, optical transistors, and several kinds of oscillation phenomena).

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 1982•0 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

Signal Processing With A Nonlinear Fabry-Perot

E. Garmire

In this paper we consider the nonlinear Fabry-Perot and its applications to optical signal and image processing. This paper addresses the signal processing aspects of a nonlinear Fabry-Perot interferometer with emphasis on image processing. The device geometry is shown in Figure 1. A thin nonlinear medium, whose refractive index is a function of the light intensity inside the Fabry-Perot is sandwiched between two plane parallel mirrors. The output as a function of input is shown in Fig. 2, for two different values of the difference between the Fabry-Perot low intensity resonance and the incident wavelength. The bistable curve in 2a is the origin of the term optical bistability and makes possible an optical memory, in which the output is a function of the history of the device. The Figure 2b represents a typical nonlinear transfer curve which may be used for signal processing. It can be seen that small changes in the input intensity Ic make large changes in the output intensity.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Jul 29, 1981•4 citations

Active optical bistability based on stable-unstable resonator transitions

C. S. Lee, Hideharu OSADA

We propose and report the first experimental demonstration of a new type of active optical bistable device composed of an optical cavity and a lasing medium with a pumping source of either optical or nonopticai means. The basic principle underlying the operation of the optical bistable laser (OBL) is based on the stable-unstable cavity configuration transition of an active optical resonator. Generally speaking, a laser system showing both pump- and laser-induced tensing (focusing or defocusing) effects may display such a hysteresis loop in its input-output characteristics. Optical bistability (OB) based on self-focusing of light in a medium having a nonlinear refractive index has recently been shown experimentally.1

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 1985•0 citations

Optical bistable devices as sensing elements

Ana Pilar Gonzalez-Marcos, Antonio Hurtado, José A. Martín-Pereda

The nonlinear optical properties of many materials and devices have been the main object of research as potential candidates for sensing in different places. Just one of these properties has been, in most of the cases, the basis for the sensing operation. As a consequence, just one parameter can be detected. In this paper, although just one property will be employed too, we will show the possibility to sense different parameters with just one type of sensor. The way adopted in this work is the use of the optical bistability obtained from different photonic structures. Because this optical bistability has a strong dependence on many different parameters the possibility to sense different inputs appears. In our case, we will report the use of some non-linear optical devices, mainly Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers, as sensing elements. Because their outputs depend on many parameters, as the incident light wavelength, polarization, intensity and direction, applied voltage and feedback characteristics, they can be employed to detect, at the same time, different type of signals. This is because the way these different signals affect to the sensor response is very different too and appears under a different set of characteristics.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Nov 30, 2004•4 citations

Optical Bistability in a Nonlinear Resonator with Saturable Losses and Intensity-Dependent Refractive Index

S Bhargava, Claudio Porzi, Prasanta Kumar Datta +3 more

We present numerical results relative to a bistable optical device comprised of an asymmetric Fabry-Perot cavity embedding a nonlinear optical medium. Both the real and imaginary part of the third order nonlinear susceptibility are considered in our calculations. Optimized device operation, expressed in terms of the contrast ratio between the two stable states, is then discussed as a function of the different cavity parameters. The presented method can be a useful tool for designing practical devices with application in the field of all-optical switching, optical regeneration and optical signal processing.

International Conference on Communications•May 1, 2010•7 citations
When the output parameter of an optical device could be a multivalued function of the input parameter, this device can be working in an optical bistable status. The most typical optical bistable device is a Fabry–Perot cavity containing a nonlinear optical medium, the refractive index of which depends on the light intensity. Upon the action of an intense input optical beam, the transmitted (or reflected) intensity of this device may exhibit a nonlinear response to the incident light intensity variation and, especially under appropriate working conditions, the characteristic output/input curve may manifest a single (or multiple) hysteresis loop(s). Such type of optical bistable device can be used as an optical differential amplifier, optical switch, optical limiter, optical clipper, optical discriminator, or an optical memory element, depending on the chosen nonlinear medium and operation conditions.
Optical bistability (OB) can be defined as the existence of two stable states for one set of optical input conditions. It can be seen in many different systems which generally combine some microscopic nonlinearity (e.g., intensity-dependent refractive index) with some macroscopic feedback (e.g., a Fabry-Perot cavity). OB shows not only hysteresis but also switching transitions. By adjusting the degree of feedback various related effects are also possible (e.g., optical limiters, optical transistors, and several kinds of oscillation phenomena).
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.
In this paper we consider the nonlinear Fabry-Perot and its applications to optical signal and image processing. This paper addresses the signal processing aspects of a nonlinear Fabry-Perot interferometer with emphasis on image processing. The device geometry is shown in Figure 1. A thin nonlinear medium, whose refractive index is a function of the light intensity inside the Fabry-Perot is sandwiched between two plane parallel mirrors. The output as a function of input is shown in Fig. 2, for two different values of the difference between the Fabry-Perot low intensity resonance and the incident wavelength. The bistable curve in 2a is the origin of the term optical bistability and makes possible an optical memory, in which the output is a function of the history of the device. The Figure 2b represents a typical nonlinear transfer curve which may be used for signal processing. It can be seen that small changes in the input intensity Ic make large changes in the output intensity.
We propose and report the first experimental demonstration of a new type of active optical bistable device composed of an optical cavity and a lasing medium with a pumping source of either optical or nonopticai means. The basic principle underlying the operation of the optical bistable laser (OBL) is based on the stable-unstable cavity configuration transition of an active optical resonator. Generally speaking, a laser system showing both pump- and laser-induced tensing (focusing or defocusing) effects may display such a hysteresis loop in its input-output characteristics. Optical bistability (OB) based on self-focusing of light in a medium having a nonlinear refractive index has recently been shown experimentally.1
The nonlinear optical properties of many materials and devices have been the main object of research as potential candidates for sensing in different places. Just one of these properties has been, in most of the cases, the basis for the sensing operation. As a consequence, just one parameter can be detected. In this paper, although just one property will be employed too, we will show the possibility to sense different parameters with just one type of sensor. The way adopted in this work is the use of the optical bistability obtained from different photonic structures. Because this optical bistability has a strong dependence on many different parameters the possibility to sense different inputs appears. In our case, we will report the use of some non-linear optical devices, mainly Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers, as sensing elements. Because their outputs depend on many parameters, as the incident light wavelength, polarization, intensity and direction, applied voltage and feedback characteristics, they can be employed to detect, at the same time, different type of signals. This is because the way these different signals affect to the sensor response is very different too and appears under a different set of characteristics.
We present numerical results relative to a bistable optical device comprised of an asymmetric Fabry-Perot cavity embedding a nonlinear optical medium. Both the real and imaginary part of the third order nonlinear susceptibility are considered in our calculations. Optimized device operation, expressed in terms of the contrast ratio between the two stable states, is then discussed as a function of the different cavity parameters. The presented method can be a useful tool for designing practical devices with application in the field of all-optical switching, optical regeneration and optical signal processing.