Optical bistability in spaser chains

Abstract

Optical bistability of a spaser and criteria of its appearance are studied theoretically. The effective transmission coefficient of a spaser is calculated. This allows for considering a "mirrorless" spaser bistability in the same way as that of a nonlinear Fabry-Perot cavity. It is shown that at sufficiently high losses in a spaser, due to the bistability, kink waves may propagate along a one-dimensional chain of spasers. This wave propagates even if the pumping is below the threshold of spasing. At low losses in spaser, quasiperiodic dissipative structures emerge in the spaser chain. The dynamics of the origin of such structures has a self-assembling character. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.