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

International Laser Science Conference

Optical bistable interaction of laser radiation with micro-particles

K. M. Leung

Published Jan 1, 1986• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Intrinsic optical bistability in the scattering and absorption of laser radiation from microparticles having an intensity-dependent refractive index is investigated.1 We work only with particles whose radius is small compared with the wavelength of the incident radiation. Our calculation is based on the assumption that the electric field inside the particle is in fact uniform (as is the case in the linear regime). For particles with fairly sharp surface piasmon resonances, optical bistability can occur if the frequency detuning is above a certain critical value. The threshold intensity is found to be reduced by several orders of magnitude compared with the non-resonant case. Optical switching can also occur at fixed intensity above the threshold by sweeping the frequency across the resonant frequency. Right at the critical detuning frequency, the particle can act as an optical transistor with a very sizable differential gain. Spherical1 as well as elongated microparticles2 are studied. In the latter case, optical tristability can also be achieved, and there are, in addition, interesting shape dependence and orientational effects.

DOI
10.1364/ils.1986.thl39

Related papers

Optical bistability in the scattering and absorption of light from nonlinear microparticles

K. M. Leung

Intrinsic optical bistability in the scattering and absorption of light from Rayleigh-particle-sized microparticles having an intensity-dependent refractive index is theoretically investigated. For particles near plasmon resonances optical switching also occurs by sweeping the frequency across the resonance at fixed incident intensity above a certain threshold. Several orders of magnitudes of reduction in the switching intensities are possible near sharp resonances, and an optical transistor mode with a very sizable differential gain can be achieved.

Physical Review A•Apr 1, 1986•101 citations

Optical bistable interaction of laser radiation with microparticles

K. M. Leung

Intrinsic optical bistability in the scattering and absorption of light from Rayleigh‐sized microparticles having an intensity‐dependent refractive index is theoretically investigated. For particles near plasmon resonances optical switching occurs with several orders of magnitude reduction in the switching intensity. Besides acting as an optical memory element whose size is small compared with the incident wavelength, the microparticle also exhibits an optical transistor mode with a sizable differential gain.

AIP conference proceedings•Jan 1, 1987•0 citations

Absorption coefficient versus induced electric field dependence as a basis for optical bistability in a semiconductor

M.M. Loginova, Vyacheslav A. Trofimov

Using computer simulation, the feasibility of absorption optical bistability based on the dependence of the absorption coefficient on an electric field induced by a high-intensity laser pulse acting on a semiconductor and shifting the energy levels of atoms is demonstrated. Unlike the known mechanisms behind absorption optical bistability, here enhanced diffusion of charged particles does not change the rate of switching the system from the lower to upper state. Radiation-semiconductor interaction conditions are found when, after being switched to the upper state, the system remains in it until the laser pulse disappears.

Technical Physics•May 1, 2006•0 citations

Dispersive optical bistability in a dielectric sphere

Md. Mohiuddin Mazumder, Steven C. Hill, Dipak Q. Chowdhury +1 more

Dispersive optical bistability in a dielectric sphere is modeled. The analysis is applicable to cases in which the incident frequency is near a morphology-dependent resonance of the sphere. The refractive index of the sphere is assumed to vary as m(r) = m0 + m2I(r), where I(r) is the internal intensity at position r. In general I(r) contains all the modes of the sphere. However, we first obtain a simplified analytical expression for bistability in which we assume that I(r) consists of a single near-resonant mode. We also analyze the bistability problem; in the analysis we include all the modes of the sphere in computing I(r). The agreement between the all-mode and the single-mode results is good when the incident frequency is within a few linewidths of ahigh-Q (>104) mode. We compare bistability in a dielectric sphere with that in a Fabry–Perot cavity. We use a quasi-steady-state approximation to calculate the time-dependent backscattering from a CS2 sphere near a resonance. The computed backscattered intensity has bistable characteristics.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Feb 1, 1995•21 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

Intrinsic optical bistability via switching between saturable and reverse saturable absorption

Seyed Morteza Mousavi, Mohammad Mahmoudi

We present a novel approach to achieving intrinsic optical bistability and multistability through the interplay between saturable and reverse saturable absorption. Our findings reveal that the stable points on the optical bistability curve align with the switching points of intensity-dependent nonlinear absorption. By analyzing the optical properties of a four-level cascade quantum system, we demonstrate that these switching behaviors can be triggered by applying laser fields to induce nonlinear absorption. Furthermore, we propose a comprehensive model to describe the intensity-dependent nonlinear absorption within this quantum system. Finally, it is shown that the optical bistability switches to the multistability when the detuning of applied fields exceeds the multi-photon resonance condition.

Scientific Reports•Apr 15, 2025•3 citations
Intrinsic optical bistability in the scattering and absorption of laser radiation from microparticles having an intensity-dependent refractive index is investigated.1 We work only with particles whose radius is small compared with the wavelength of the incident radiation. Our calculation is based on the assumption that the electric field inside the particle is in fact uniform (as is the case in the linear regime). For particles with fairly sharp surface piasmon resonances, optical bistability can occur if the frequency detuning is above a certain critical value. The threshold intensity is found to be reduced by several orders of magnitude compared with the non-resonant case. Optical switching can also occur at fixed intensity above the threshold by sweeping the frequency across the resonant frequency. Right at the critical detuning frequency, the particle can act as an optical transistor with a very sizable differential gain. Spherical1 as well as elongated microparticles2 are studied. In the latter case, optical tristability can also be achieved, and there are, in addition, interesting shape dependence and orientational effects.
Intrinsic optical bistability in the scattering and absorption of light from Rayleigh-particle-sized microparticles having an intensity-dependent refractive index is theoretically investigated. For particles near plasmon resonances optical switching also occurs by sweeping the frequency across the resonance at fixed incident intensity above a certain threshold. Several orders of magnitudes of reduction in the switching intensities are possible near sharp resonances, and an optical transistor mode with a very sizable differential gain can be achieved.
Intrinsic optical bistability in the scattering and absorption of light from Rayleigh‐sized microparticles having an intensity‐dependent refractive index is theoretically investigated. For particles near plasmon resonances optical switching occurs with several orders of magnitude reduction in the switching intensity. Besides acting as an optical memory element whose size is small compared with the incident wavelength, the microparticle also exhibits an optical transistor mode with a sizable differential gain.
Using computer simulation, the feasibility of absorption optical bistability based on the dependence of the absorption coefficient on an electric field induced by a high-intensity laser pulse acting on a semiconductor and shifting the energy levels of atoms is demonstrated. Unlike the known mechanisms behind absorption optical bistability, here enhanced diffusion of charged particles does not change the rate of switching the system from the lower to upper state. Radiation-semiconductor interaction conditions are found when, after being switched to the upper state, the system remains in it until the laser pulse disappears.
Dispersive optical bistability in a dielectric sphere is modeled. The analysis is applicable to cases in which the incident frequency is near a morphology-dependent resonance of the sphere. The refractive index of the sphere is assumed to vary as m(r) = m0 + m2I(r), where I(r) is the internal intensity at position r. In general I(r) contains all the modes of the sphere. However, we first obtain a simplified analytical expression for bistability in which we assume that I(r) consists of a single near-resonant mode. We also analyze the bistability problem; in the analysis we include all the modes of the sphere in computing I(r). The agreement between the all-mode and the single-mode results is good when the incident frequency is within a few linewidths of ahigh-Q (>104) mode. We compare bistability in a dielectric sphere with that in a Fabry–Perot cavity. We use a quasi-steady-state approximation to calculate the time-dependent backscattering from a CS2 sphere near a resonance. The computed backscattered intensity has bistable characteristics.
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 present a novel approach to achieving intrinsic optical bistability and multistability through the interplay between saturable and reverse saturable absorption. Our findings reveal that the stable points on the optical bistability curve align with the switching points of intensity-dependent nonlinear absorption. By analyzing the optical properties of a four-level cascade quantum system, we demonstrate that these switching behaviors can be triggered by applying laser fields to induce nonlinear absorption. Furthermore, we propose a comprehensive model to describe the intensity-dependent nonlinear absorption within this quantum system. Finally, it is shown that the optical bistability switches to the multistability when the detuning of applied fields exceeds the multi-photon resonance condition.