Abstract

We discuss the coupling of orthogonally polarized beams in a nonlinear cavity and show experimentally how this can be used to implement gates or latches in which one polarization state is switched by another. These devices must be reset by interrupting a light beam and thus must dissipate energy to switch down. The possibility of up and down switching with positive pulses only is also discussed.

© 1990 Optical Society of America

Positive pulse switching in coupled nonlinear Fabry-Perot cavities

Kwongchoi Caisy Ho and Guy Indebetouw
Appl. Opt. 30(18) 2437-2442 (1991)

Gain-coupled optical logic in semiconductor lasers

Dominic F. G. Gallagher
Appl. Opt. 29(29) 4359-4371 (1990)

Optical logic using electrically connected quantum well PIN diode modulators and detectors

Anthony L. Lentine, David A. B. Miller, J. E. Henry, J. E. Cunningham, L. M. F. Chirovsky, and L. A. D’Asaro
Appl. Opt. 29(14) 2153-2163 (1990)

Optical bistability and beam competition in a nonresonant cavity containing a nematic liquid crystal and a photorefractive crystal

M. Ingold, P. Günter, and M. Schadt
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 7(12) 2380-2386 (1990)

Dichroism and birefringence in aperiodic coupled cavities and their influence on the polarization states of quasi-isotropic lasers

K. Ait-Ameur, G. Stéphan, E. Sjerve, and A. D. May
Appl. Opt. 33(34) 7895-7900 (1994)