Abstract

The switching dynamics of thermally induced optical bistability due to increasing absorption is investigated in thin CdS platelets, at room temperature. The sample, held on its high transmission level by a cw argon laser beam, is switched by an external UV light pulse from an excimer laser (wavelength 308 nm, duration 15 ns). Fast switching or slowing down are possible, depending on the holding cw intensity and on the pulse energy. A detailed study of the switching time shows that a very rapid component is first observed (electronic contribution), followed by a much slower component (thermal relaxation of the material). This slow component can be avoided for high enough switching pulse energies. The transverse relaxation of the temperature in the sample appears to influence strongly the switching dynamics.

© 1988 Optical Society of America