Abstract

The dynamic response of a bistable system may be analysed via a Debye equation of the form [1] and, if the system is perturbed at a particular phase ϕ_s, the time response is characterised by an effective time constant τ_e given by This time constant determines the dynamic frequency limits which are applicable through the bistable switching process and as the switch points are approached there is a dramatic increase in τ_e and a corresponding reduction in the frequency to which the system can respond.

© 1988 Optical Society of America