Bistability and Switching in Nonlinear Prism Coupling

G. I. Stegeman, G. Assanto, R. Zanoni, C. T. Seaton, E. Garmire, A. A. Maradudin, R. Reinisch, and G. Vitrant

Appl. Phys. Lett. 52, 869-871 (1988)

Abstract:

We demonstrate that when a nonlinear coupler is operated in the switching regime, small amounts of either nonlocality in the optically induced refractive index change or of longitudinal feedback can lead to optical bistability. Outside the switching regime, there is a threshold for the amount of nonlocality or feedback required for bistability. The diverse predictions of previous theoretical formulations are therefore reconciled.