SWITCHING TYPES AND ALL-OPTICAL FLIP-FLOP OPERATIONS IN A RING CAVITY WITH 4 NONLINEAR ELEMENTS

We consider an optical ring cavity with four nonlinear elements and investigate its all-optical flip-flop operation and the types of switching between its multiple stable states. All-optical flip-flop operation is shown to exist, and the possible switching modes are determined. We also discuss the difference between the slowly varying input and pulse-injection processes. Moreover a procedure to obtain the preinjection states that are needed for operation is proposed. © 1990 Optical Society of America.