Theory and experiment on optical bistability in a Fabry-Perot interferometer with an intracavity nematic liquid-crystal film

I. C. Khoo, J. Y. Hou, R. Normandin, V. C.Y. So

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have studied theoretically and experimentally the nonlinear Fabry-Perot transmission of a cavity with a thin nematic liquid-crystal film. Various modes of operation have been observed, using a moderate-power cw laser. In the limit of small reorientation angles, the optically induced molecular reorientation of the birefringent crystal and the nonlinear phase shift is solved for a homeotropically aligned crystal. Multiple-valued Fabry-Perot transmission is obtained by solving the nonlinear equations that couple the optical phase shift with the cavity transmission. The time-independent nature of the process and the explicit quantitative expressions involving the nematic liquid-crystal parameters allow a direct comparison between the thoery and experimental results. Good quantitative agreement is demonstrated.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3251-3257
Number of pages7
JournalPhysical Review A
Volume27
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1983

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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