Nonlinear complex eikonal approximation: Optical bistability in absorbing media

Abstract
A recently developed nonlinear complex eikonal approximation which was previously employed to the study of dispersively nonlinear resonators is applied to absorptively nonlinear resonator configurations. The nonlinear absorption is introduced phenomenologically, encompassing a large variety of intensity-dependent absorption mechanisms. Conditions for obtaining optical bistability are derived. Dynamically increasing absorption was not considered, and optical bistability in free propagation was not obtained.