OPTICAL BISTABILITY OF A DIELECTRIC CLADDED THIN FILM NEAR THE TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION STATE: THEORY AND EXPERIMENT.

Summary form only given. In a previous study of a single nonlinear interface (A. E. Kaplan, 1977), the nonlinear media are infinite in extent, and the field distribution in the nonlinear medium is obtained by solving the Fresnel refraction and reflection equations at the interface. In the present problem, involving a very thin film, the presence of another close-by interface requires solving for the field distribution, as well as the nonlinear response of the thin film, subject to the boundary values at the two interfaces. This mutual influence and feedback between the two interfaces are solved for the case where the nonlinear thin film is also birefringent (e. g. , a nematic liquid crystal film) for two regimes. 2 refs.