Optical Bistability

Lixue Chen

Traditional frequency domain optical bistability(FDOB) devices with hybrid electro-optical feedback have low response speed and high noise fluctuations.Hence,a novel tunable laser FDOB device with an all-optical feedback was developed using a nonlinear fiber ring resonator as the frequency feedback element.Parametric equations of optical bistability were established according to the system's response to nonlinear process and frequency-dependent feedback.Based on the parametric equations,the characteristics and controllable operations of FDOB were analyzed.The switching response speed of the optical bistability was discussed.The analysis showed that the proposed all-fiber laser bistability device can effectively achieve intensity-driven and gain-driven optical bistability.The position and shape of the bistability hysteresis curve vary with the adjustment of gain or loss in the fiber ring resonator,hence realizing the controlled all-optical bistability operations.Sudden jumping of optical bistability in the frequency domain can be applied to monitor laser wavelength shift and achieve sensoring.The optical bistability response time is in the nanosecond order of magnitude and bistability switching is ultrafast.

R. Reinisch, Guy Vitrant

Ali Raheli, Hadi Afshari, Hamid Reza Hamedi

This paper deals with optical bistability (OB) and optical multistability (OM) behaviors for a triple semiconductor quantum well (SQW) structure driven coherently with two control fields, confined in a unidirectional ring cavity. The effect of different system parameters on OB and OM is explored. It is found that the threshold of onset of the OB can be controlled by manipulating the Rabi frequency of control fields. In this case, OB can be converted to OM. Then we investigate the effect of probe and control field detunings on OB behaviors. We found that the frequency detuning of probe field affects only the upper–lower branches of the OB curves but has no specific impact on OB threshold. By manipulating the first control field detuning, neither the OB threshold intensity nor upper–lower branches change. Finally, it is found that increasing the second control field detuning can reduce merely the OB threshold intensity, while no change happens in upper–lower OB branches. The results may be applicable in real experiments for realizing an all-optical switching or coding element in a solid-state platform.

Nasser N. Peyghambarian

Optical bistability and its potential for optical signal processing and communications are reviewed. Recent experimental results in semiconductor optical bistability are presented. In particular, optical bistability in GaAs-AlGaAs superlattices and CuCl, ZnS, and ZnSe is discussed.

Brian S. Wherrett, David C. Hutchings