Optical bistability is a general title for a number of static and dynamic phenomena that result from the interplay of optical non-linearity and feedback. The object of this review is to give a broad description of optical bistability: from practical applications, as an optical transistor or optical memory element, to its phase transition interpretation. The theory is divided into three parts. The first is a simple discussion that covers most of the basic experimental effects and concepts of practical importance. The second part applies to atomic systems where a semiclassical as well as a quantummechanical approach is possible. The third one discusses the mechanisms compatible with large non-linearities observed in InSb and GaAs as semiconductors constitute the most promising materials for applications. Current experimental progress in all-optical and hybrid devices is also discussed and finally a scaling example is presented to indicate the possibilities in high-speed all-optical signal processing.
By use of an expansion in Gaussian functions we solve the problem of the propagation of a laser beam that has been passed through a thin slab of nonlinearly refracting material. We compare the theoretical results for beam profile with experimental measurements for the semiconductor InSb and confirm that self-defocusing has been observed by D. A. B. Miller, M. H. Mozolowski, A. Miller, and S. D. Smith [Opt. Commun. 27, 133 (1978)]. The deduced value for the nonlinear refractive index at ~5 K is -6 x 10(-5) cm(2) W(-1) at 1886 cm(-1). This implies a third-order optical nonlinearity chi((3)) ~ 10(-2) esu, much larger than any previously reported for a solid.
the situation of the Kerr black-hole uniqueness proofs, since in these proofs very strong symmetry requirements are made, which are inconsistent with the generic condition: The generators of the Kerr event horizon, for example, never feel tidal forces. However, the black-hole uniqueness theorems are frequently used to argue that the final black-hole state is of Kerr type; the symmetry requirements are then not expected to hold exactly for all time, just approximately in the limit of a long time after the black hole formation. In this actual physical case the generic condition does hold, for the reasons given on page 101 of HE. Thus Theorem 2 tells us that although there may be nonsingular causality-violating black-hole solutions, they would have to satisfy strong symmetry requirements exactly over their entire history. In other words, the existence of CTL would be an unstable property of black holes. Hence, no physically realistic, causality-violating, nonsingular black-hole solutions exist.
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