Abstract

The nonlinear interface (NI) has been proposed for ultrafast all-optical switching, pulse shaping, and energy limiting. These potential applications notwithstanding, only a few experimental realizations of NTs have been published. Reasons for this lack include the unavailability of a suitable model in which the effects of various parameters on the switching behavior could be simply explored, and the discouraging results of early (nonsaturating NI) experiments.¹ The material combinations in earlier studies used¹,² required special NI preparation that introduced uncontrollable parameters. We present a simple NI that uses a thermal nonlinearity and requires a shorter learning time for its setup; it allows the study of both the reflected and transmitted beams. Although the response time of such a thermal NI is on the order of milliseconds, it can serve as a model system for studies of ultrafast NI applications. Depending on the ratio of pulse length to the response time of the system (formation and relaxation time of the nonlinearity), various operating modes can be observed.

© 1990 Optical Society of America