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Effect of an Optical Negative Index Thin Film on Optical Bistability

Optics 2009-11-13 v1

Abstract

We investigate nonlinear transmission in a layered structure consisting of a slab of positive index material (PIM) with Kerr-type nonlinearity and a sub-wavelength layer of linear negative index material (NIM) sandwiched between semi-infinite linear dielectrics. We find that a thin layer of NIM leads to significant changes in the hysteresis width when the nonlinear slab is illuminated at an angle near that of total internal reflection. Unidirectional diode-like transmission with enhanced operational range is demonstrated. These results may be useful for NIMs characterization and for designing novel NIMs based devices.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.physics/0607177,
  title  = {Effect of an Optical Negative Index Thin Film on Optical Bistability},
  author = {N. M. Litchinitser and I. R. Gabitov and A. I. Maimistov and V. M. Shalaev},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:physics/0607177},
  year   = {2009}
}