Exploiting bifurcations in waveguide arrays for light detectors

Abstract

An array of a finite number waveguides, driven laterally by injecting light at the outer waveguides, is considered. The array is modeled by a discrete nonlinear Schr\"{o}dinger equation. It has been shown [Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 243902 (2005)] that, when the injected light is in the proximity of a bifurcation point, such a system can be sensitive to small disturbances, making it possible to act as a light detector. Here, the optimum intensity of the injected light is discussed, and an analytical approximation is presented.