Asymmetric bistable reflection and polarization switching in a magnetic nonlinear multilayer structure

TL;DR

This paper investigates a magnetic nonlinear multilayer photonic structure that exhibits asymmetric reflection and polarization switching, demonstrating defect-induced bistability and hysteresis effects through transfer matrix and FDTD simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel magnetic nonlinear multilayer design showing defect mode-induced polarization bistability and asymmetric reflection, with comprehensive transfer matrix and time-domain analysis.

Findings

Strong nonreciprocity at defect mode frequencies

Polarization bistability and abrupt switching in reflected light

Hysteresis behavior confirmed by FDTD simulations

Abstract

Optical properties of a one-dimensional photonic structure consisting of Kerr-type nonlinear and magnetic layers under the action of an external static magnetic field in the Faraday geometry are investigated. The structure is a periodic arrangement of alternating nonlinear and magnetic layers (a one-dimensional photonic crystal) with one of the layers doubled to create a defect where periodicity is violated. Strong enhancement of nonreciprocity is observed at the frequencies of the defect modes, where linearly polarized light incident from one side of the structure undergoes 90 deg polarization rotation upon reflection, while light reflected from the other side has its polarization unchanged. Using the nonlinear transfer matrix calculations in the frequency domain, it is demonstrated that defect resonances in the nonlinear reflection spectra undergo bending, resulting in polarization bistability of reflected light. This bistability is shown to result in abrupt switching between linear polarization of the output reflected light when the input intensity is varied. This switching is confirmed in finite-difference time-domain simulations, and its hysteresis character is established.