SELF-FOCUSING AND OPTICAL BISTABILITY IN CD1-XMNXTE

Thermally induced self-focusing of laser beam and optical bistability in CdMnTe at room temperature has been investigated. Photothermal foca l length as a function of intensity of laser radiation has been measur ed in Cd1-xMnxTe for 0.3 less-than-or-equal-to x less-than-or-equal-to 0.6. The time-dependence of the transmitted power for various laser i ntensities has been investigated and the switching from the transparen t to dark state has been observed. For the first time the optical bist able characteristic has been measured in CdMnTe. The results indicate that CdMnTe is a suitable material for cavityless, large contrast, the rmally induced absorptive bistable operation in visible region.