Optical bistability

We consider the problem of the wave propagation through a nonlinear medium. We derive a dynamic system that governs the behavior of standing (or solit ary) waves. The form of this system alone suffices to understand the qualit ative dependence of solutions of the original equation on the intensity of the incident wave. We solve this dynamical system in the leading order in t he nonlinearity strength. We find multiple solutions of the original proble m for a given incoming wave and turning points of these solutions as a func tion of the wave intensity. We briefly investigate stability of different b ranches. Our results yield an analytic description of the optical bistabili ty phenomenon. (C) 2001 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".