Nonlinear distributed feedback structures for optical sensor protection

We analyze the intensity-dependent optical response of passive optical limiters realized using distributed feedback structures which consist of alternating layers of materials possessing opposite Kerr nonlinearities. By elaborating an analytical model and employing numerical simulations, we explore device performance with respect to key requirements for passive optical limiter deployment. We prove that the proposed limiting mechanism results in complete clamping of transmitted intensity to a sensor-safe limiting value, independent of incident intensity. We provide a direct analytical expression for this limiting intensity in terms of structural and material parameters.

[1]  M. Wood,et al.  Nonlinear liquid crystal optical fiber array for all-optical switching/limiting , 1996, Conference Proceedings LEOS'96 9th Annual Meeting IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society.

[2]  K L Hall,et al.  Interferometric all-optical switches for ultrafast signal processing. , 1998, Applied optics.

[3]  Bowden,et al.  Optical limiting and switching of ultrashort pulses in nonlinear photonic band gap materials. , 1994, Physical review letters.

[4]  P. Yeh,et al.  Optical Waves in Layered Media , 1988 .

[5]  A A Said,et al.  Optimization of optical limiting devices based on excited-state absorption. , 1997, Applied optics.

[6]  W. H. Steier,et al.  Analysis of optical bistability in a nonlinear distributively coupled resonator , 1992 .

[7]  Chao-Xiang Shi,et al.  Optical bistability in reflective fiber gratings , 1995 .

[8]  L. Brzozowski,et al.  Optical signal processing using nonlinear distributed feedback structures , 2000, IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics.

[9]  John,et al.  Strong localization of photons in certain disordered dielectric superlattices. , 1987, Physical review letters.

[10]  M. Teich,et al.  Fundamentals of Photonics , 1991 .

[11]  H. Gibbs.  Optical Bistability Controlling Light With Light , 1985 .

[12]  Lothar Lilge,et al.  Three‐Dimensional Arrays in Polymer Nanocomposites , 1999 .

[13]  Geoffrey A. Ozin,et al.  Radial patterns in mesoporous silica , 1999 .

[14]  J. Werner.  Children's sunglasses: caveat emptor. , 1991, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[15]  R. J. Tonucci,et al.  Two-dimensional photonic bandgap optical limiter in the visible. , 1998, Optics letters.

[16]  Gene Cooperman,et al.  Self‐pulsing and chaos in distributed feedback bistable optical devices , 1982 .

[17]  P. Miles,et al.  Bottleneck optical pulse limiters revisited. , 1999, Applied optics.

[18]  S. Yamada,et al.  Large near-resonance third-order nonlinearity in an azobenzene-functionalized polymer film , 1998 .

[19]  Amnon Yariv,et al.  Optical Waves in Crystals , 1984 .

[20]  K. Ishizu,et al.  Architecture of polymeric superstructures formed by locking cubic lattices of core-shell polymer microspheres , 1998 .

[21]  K. Ishizu,et al.  Aggregation behaviour of core-shell type polymer microspheres , 1994 .

[22]  E. Yablonovitch,et al.  Inhibited spontaneous emission in solid-state physics and electronics. , 1987, Physical review letters.