Bistable optical behavior of a nonlinear attenuated total reflection device: Resonant excitation of nonlinear guided modes

Abstract

We study the prism excitation of a nonlinear waveguide. The nonlinear medium is the substrate which exhibits Kerr effect. Our results show that such a device experiences optical bistability. We also show that there exists a close link between optical bistability and resonant excitation of nonlinear guided modes propagating along this nonlinear waveguide.