title: Hierarchical multistability and cooperative flip-flop operation in a bistable optical system with distributed nonlinear elements.
abstract: A bistable optical system with distributed nonlinear elements is proposed. Novel functions are derived from the collective nature of the optical elements. Collective phenomena including spatial period-doubling bifurcations, hierarchical multistabilities, and various types of cooperative all-optical flip-flop operations are predicted to take place in the proposed optical device.
authors.affiliation: NTT Electrical Communications Laboratories, Musashino-shi, Tokyo, 180, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Otsuka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikeda