Transmission and reflection of transverse-magnetic-polarized optical fields at stratified nonlinear media

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Abstract
For the first time we study the transmission and the reflection of transverse-magnetic-polarized optical fields which impinge obliquely on diverse multilayer systems showing distinct resonances of geometrical origin in the low-intensity limit. The individual layers are endowed with nonlinear materials, the complex dielectric functions of which depend on the local intensity of the optical wave. The field propagation is described by a straightforward algorithm that reduces the final field calculation to a standard Runge-Kutta procedure. With respect to varying input fluxes we discuss in detail the response characteristic of a single nonlinear film near the angle of total internal reflection, a nonlinear periodic multilayer system near the edges of its stop gap, and a nonlinear Fabry-Pérot Étalon, coated with linear or nonlinear dielectric mirrors, near an Airy resonance, respectively. For all configurations under investigation, a bistable input-output flux characteristic is predicted. We compare also the response behavior as it depends on the state of polarization. A clear advantage of transverse electric polarized fields with respect to lower switching intensities could be identified. There are indications for optical bistability with respect to the polarization angle.