Controllable optical bistability and multistability in asymmetric double quantum wells via spontaneously generated coherence

We investigate the nonlinear optical phenomena of the optical bistability and multistability via spontaneously generated coherence in an asymmetric double quantum well structure coupled by a weak probe field and a controlling field. It is shown that the threshold and hysteresis cycle of the optical bistability can be conveniently controlled only by adjusting the intensity of the SGC or the controlling field. Moreover, switching between optical bistability and multistability can be achieved. These studies may have practical significance for the preparation of optical bistable switching device.     

Optical bistability of subwavelength metallic film coated by Kerr dielectric gratings

We studied the optical bistability of subwavelength metallic film coated by Kerr dielectric gratings numerically. It is found that the effect of optical bistability in the structure is explained by the excitations of the coupled surface plasmon polaritons at the coated metallic films. The effect of thickness of the metallic films on bistability loop is analyzed in detail, and the authors attribute the change of the bistability loop to the lifetime of the coupled surface plasmon polaritons.     

Achieving optical bistability through ultra-compact metal-dielectric structure

The transmission spectra of two-period metal-dielectric structure are studied through the transfer matrix method. When the dielectric is nonlinear material, an optical bistability has been found. The upper threshold value is insensitive to incident frequency, while the lower threshold value increases with the incident frequency decreasing. The effect of loss from the metal layers on the optical bistability is also considered.     

Properties of defect modes in one-dimensional photonic crystals containing two nonlinear defects

Transmission properties of one-dimensional photonic crystal with two nonlinear defects were investigated based on the nonlinear transfer matrix method. From the inspection of the optical bistabilities around different defect modes, it was found that the threshold of bistability for the bonding mode is always lower than that for the anti-bonding mode. When intensity of the incident wave increases bistability could happen at any wavelength larger than the resonance wavelength of the linear anti-bonding mode in the gap. The threshold of bistability increases initially with the wavelength, then decreases sharply in reaching the resonance wavelength of the linear bonding mode. The coupling behavior of the two defects was also discussed, and it was found that the threshold of bistability increases with the distance between the two defects. A flat spectrum similar to that formed in the photonic crystal molecules was obtained under certain incident intensity.     

Influences of control coherence and decay coherence on optical bistability in a semiconductor quantum well

We discuss the influences of two different types of mechanisms of quantum coherence on optical bistability in a semiconductor quantum well structure.In the first mechanism,only quantum coherence induced by the resonant coupling of a strong control laser is considered.In the second mechanism,the decay coherence is taken into account under the condition where the control field is weak.In two different cases,optical bistability can be obtained through choosing appropriate physical parameters.Our studies show quantum coherence makes the optical nonlinear effect of the system become stronger,which takes an important role in the process of generating optical bistability.A semiconductor quantum well with flexibility and easy integration in design could potentially be exploited in real solid-state devices.     

Optical bistability in nonlinear subwavelength metal hole array involving Kerr materials

We investigate an optical bistability phenomenon in a structure consisting of a silver film with a hole array filling with Kerr medium with single wavelength. We explore the mechanism of optical bistability in our structures and find that the excitation condition of surface plasmon at this moment is related with that at last moment. The contrast of optical bistability can reach to the maximum at the wavelength of the transmission peak. Our structure can realize the function of the beam splitter.     

Optical bistability using quantum coherence in a microwave-driven four-level atomic system

The behavior of the optical bistability (OB) is investigated in an optical system which consists of a four-level atomic system with a microwave drive field and an optical cavity. It is found that the optical bistability can be accomplished by adjusting different physical parameters in both steady and transient process. Due to the existence of the microwave drive field, the optical bistability can be also obtained even under weak coherent coupling field condition. Since the intensity and phase of microwave drive field can be conveniently modulated, this optical system provides a new experimental method to test the optical bistability theory.     

Cascade Two-photon Correlated-emission Optical Bistability

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Optical bistability and multi-stability in a four-level atomic scheme

We investigate the optical bistability (OB) and optical multi-stability (OM) in a four-level Y-type atomic system. It is found that the optical bistability can strongly be affected by intensity and frequency detuning of coupling and probe fields. The effect of spontaneously generated coherence on phase control of the OB and OM is then discussed. It has also been shown that the optical bistability can be switched to optical multi-stability just by the quantum interference mechanism and relative phase of applied fields.     

Influence of Fano interference and incoherent processes on optical bistability in a four-level quantum dot nanostructure

Role of Fano interference and incoherent pumping field on optical bistability in a four-level designed In Ga N/Ga N quantum dot nanostructure embedded in a unidirectional ring cavity are analyzed. It is found that intensity threshold of optical bistability can be manipulated by Fano interference. It is shown that incoherent pumping fields make the threshold of optical bistability behave differently by Fano interference. Moreover, in the presence of Fano interference the medium becomes phase-dependent. Therefore, the relative phase of applied fields can affect the behaviors of optical bistability and intensity threshold can be controlled easily.     

Optical bistability by two laser beams in photorefractive crystals

For a nonlinear medium, a given incident laser beam may produce different transmitted light waves. This phenomenon (the so-called optical bistability) corresponds to multiple solutions of the boundary value problems of the nonlinear Helmholtz equation. Optical bistability can be useful in the design of optical switches. Devices that display this behavior could potentially play a major role in the development of optical communication systems and computing. In this article we present experimental results concerning the optical bistability in photorefractive BaTiO₃:Fe crystal. Two laser beams were used to interact with the photorefractive crystal which resulted in the bistability of the intensity of transmitted wave. This was achieved without the application of any optical resonator. High contrast optical bistability is found experimentally in the pump-ratio dependence of the output intensity.     

Optical bistability induced by quantum coherence in a negative index atomic medium

Bistability behaviors in an optical ring cavity filled with a dense V-type four-level atomic medium are theoretically investigated. It is found that the optical bistability can appear in the negative refraction frequency band, while both the bistability and multi-stability can occur in the positive refraction frequency bands. Therefore, optical bistability can be realized from conventional material to negative index material due to quantum coherence in our scheme.     

Optical bistability through the cavity effect in a four-level open atomic medium

The optical bistability and multistability behavior in a ring cavity for the four-level open atomic system, driven by two coupling fields has been analyzed. It is shown that the presence of exit rate from cavity is having a dominant effect on generating the optical bi(multi) stability on the system. It is found that the effects of the injection rates can be used to control the threshold intensity. It is also found that optical bistability can convert to optical multistability or vice versa via the effect of intensity and detuning of the coupling fields.     

Opto-electronic bistable devices in real-time optical information processing

An opto-electronic bistable device using a twisted nematic liquid crystal cell is described. The optical bistability characteristics of this device are used in a new liquid crystal light valve with bistability in cellular array structure. Experimental studies demonstrate the applications of such opto-electronic bistable devices in real-time optical information processing such as intensity limiting for contrast improvement and noise elimination, edge enhancement for pattern recognition, linear and nonlinear optical filtering (in spatial and spectral domains).     

(CdZnTe,ZnS)/ZnTe复合量子阱的光学特性研究

设计并制备了一种新型的(CdZnTe,ZnS)/ZnTe复合量子阱结构.使CdZnTe量子阱中的激子有可能在短时间内隧穿到ZnS阱层,从而达到提高光双稳器件“关”速度的目的.并通过对发光特性的研究证实在我们设计的结构中横向激子隧穿的存在,从而为进一步研究超高速光开关提供了实验依据.     

Fiber-ring laser with tunable optical bistability

The structure of combining two segments of erbium-doped fiber (EDF) together—one EDF acting as an amplifier and the other as an absorber—has a special gain characteristic curve which has a maximum gain with an increase in the input signal power. This special gain characteristic curve can lead to an optical bistability (OB) phenomenon in a fiber-ring laser employing an EDF of this structure. By adjusting the pump light power injected into the second segment of the EDF, we can change the behavior of the absorber and can, therefore, control the range of the bistability region. A method is proposed to calculate the tunable optical bistability, and the calculation result is in accordance with our experiment.     

Logical and relational operations of optical bistable devices operating without external bias

We report successful optical realization of both logical and relational functionality using a multiple quantum well optical bistable device operating without external bias and a simple experimental setup. For the nonbiased optical bistability, we employed extremely shallow quantum wells and asymmetric Fabry-Perot cavity structure in self electro-optic effect device. The change between logical and relational mode was simply realized by controlling the intensity of the optical bias beam into devices following the basic operation principle of the optical bistability.     

Cutoff solitons in axially uniform systems

The optical response of axially uniform nonlinear photonic bandgap fibers is studied theoretically. We observe gap-soliton-like generation and associated bistability, similar to what is typically found in periodically modulated nonlinear structures. This response stems from the nature of the guided-mode dispersion relations, which involve a frequency cutoff at zero wave vector. In such systems, solutions with zero group velocities and minimal coupling to radiation modes come in naturally. We term such solitons "cutoff solitons"; they provide an interesting alternative to gap solitons in periodically index-modulated fibers for in-fiber all-optical signal processing.     

Existence, bistability, and instability of Kerr-like parametric gap solitons in quadratic media

We investigate the existence and stability of parametric gap solitons in chi((2)) media in the limit of Kerr-equivalent nonlinearities. We reveal soliton branching (bistability) described by an explicit criterion. Unlike in other optical solitons, both branches of gap solitons can be unstable owing to oscillatory instabilities. Despite these mechanisms stable gap solitons do exist.     

Instabilities for a coherently driven absorber in a Fabry-Perot cavity

We consider a suitable set of equations which describe the interaction of the electric field with a system of N two-level atoms contained in a Fabry-Perot and driven by a cw laser beam (optical bistability). The stability of the stationary solutions is analyzed. Instabilities of the self-pulsing type are found only when the bistability parameter C is larger than 60. This shows that, in order to observe self-pulsing, a ring cavity is more suitable than a Fabry-Perot.