Theory of plane wave reflection and refraction by the nonlinear interface
Abstract
The novel form of optical bistability connected with reflection and refraction of light by a single surface on a nonlinear medium, without resonator or feedback, requires for its existence an exact matching of optical densities for both media and a near-grazing incidence of light. These effects are available for positive as well as negative nonlinearity, and in the latter it is possible to excite a new kind of nonlinear wave, or longitudinally inhomogeneous traveling wave, which may provide a phenomenon of strong nonlinear parallax of refracted rays along the interface. A new method for the realization of reflection bistability is proposed which consists of the application of single-mode optical waveguides, one of which must be nonlinear, in place of two semiinfinite media. This method avoids the secondary effects of self-focusing and self-bending for bounded refracted beams in a nonlinear medium, while conserving all features of the reflection bistability phenomenon.
- Publication:
-
Optical Bistability
- Pub Date:
- 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981opbi.proc..447K
- Keywords:
-
- Bistable Circuits;
- Nonlinear Optics;
- Plane Waves;
- Refracted Waves;
- Switching Circuits;
- Wave Reflection;
- Feedback Control;
- Grazing Incidence;
- Light Transmission;
- Optical Waveguides;
- Self Focusing;
- Traveling Waves;
- Wave Excitation;
- Optics