Optical bistability based on the temperature dependence of the radiative recombination time: a new class of optical bistability components

The effect of the temperature dependence of the free-electron radiative recombination time on the onset of absorption optical bistability has been considered within the point-charge model. The existence of multistable states and the possibility of reducing by tens of times the switching temperatures and intensities and the differences between their corresponding values have been revealed. This permits one to reduce considerably the energy expended per switching event and, hence, to increase the speed of response of a bistable system. (C) 2002 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".