Abstract

A study of a nonlinear-linear (NL-L) interface has been studied in the past^[1_’^2], in cases where the incident wave propagates from the linear side. This configuration was found to exhibit bistability and other special features. Here we focus our attention on the opposite case, in which the incident wave comes from the nonlinear (NL) side. This produces an entirely different situation. We have obtained a new ingredient of nonlinear beam coupling between the incident and reflected waves. This can be a feedback source needed for bistability. We investigate theoretically the behavior of such an interface between Kerr or photorefractive and linear media. We derive the reflection and transmission laws and find a bistable behavior as the incident angle (around the critical angle) or the intensity are varied.

© 1992 IQEC