Opto-Thermal Bistable Cavities with Localized Absorption under Modulated Excitation

Abstract

Opto-Thermal Bistability with Localized Absorption (BOITAL) deals with etalons in which the light absorption occurs in one of the reflective coatings while the thermo-optic spacer is transparent. The separation of functions within the bistable system permits an independent and, therefore, easier optimisation of both functions and also introduces the possibility of complex structures with more than one absorbing film and/or with various layers of different thermo-optic materials [1]. These kinds of structures possess composite feedback mechanisms and may be used to achieve different logic functions and to study dynamic instabilities in passive optical systems [2].