Numerical analysis of waveguide-enhanced optical bistability

G. Wang*, G. C. Spalding, R. Huang, L. Luan, J. B. Ketterson

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present the results of a simulation study of a multilayer structure for which strongly enhanced (resonant) electric fields are produced at the surface of, and in the interior of, a planar waveguide which is evanescently coupled to an incoming beam in a prism geometry. The resulting field enhancements can far exceed those associated with the well-known surface plasmon resonance in a typical silver film excited in the conventional attenuated total reflection geometry. Simulations are performed for optical bistability for the case of a typical YAG laser beam coupled to a zinc oxide (ZnO) waveguide, demonstrating that the effect should occur for reasonable values of the parameters involved.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1357-1366
Number of pages10
JournalOptical and Quantum Electronics
Volume35
Issue number15
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2003

Funding

The authors thank Kirill Rivkin and Paul Sievert for helpful discussions. This work was supported by the Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative funded by the Army Research Office (Grant No. DAAG55-97-1-0133) and the MRSEC core and RST programs of the National Science Foundation (DMR-0076097). G.C.S. is also supported by an award from the Research Corporation and by the National Science Foundation through Grant No. DMR-0216631.

Keywords

  • Kerr effect
  • Multilayer
  • Nonlinear optics
  • Optical bistability
  • Waveguide

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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