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Topical Meeting on Optical Bistability (OB)

Steady Characteristics of A Biased Optically Bistable Device

Ch. Golaire, Paul Mandel, P. Laws

Published Jan 1, 1985• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We consider an optically bistable device illuminated by two incident beams: a biasing (or holding) beam which brings the system into a state appropriate to perform a given logic operation and a controlling (or address) beam. The refraction index is n=n0+n21I1c+n22I2c where Ikc is the cavity intensity of the beam k.
DOI
10.1364/obi.1985.md25

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There is much interest in the use of optical bistable devices as logic gates for optical processors. Although desirable properties have been reported, it is difficult to see how these are offset by less desirable ones. All properties of the device can be controlled to a certain extent, principally by the bias conditions. Here we show how steady state and dynamic responses vary simultaneously with these parameters. These operating curves can be used to see the capabilities of a device or to choose the optimum bias conditions.
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.