Intrinsic absorptive optical bistability in CdS

Abstract

An intrinsic absorptive optical bistability is observed in the transmission of high intensity, nanosecond laser pulses through thin CdS platelets at liquid helium temperature. The bistability is due to a renormalization of the band gap which is caused by the formation of an electron hole plasma and occurs in a broad spectral range below the excitonic resonances. The switching times are in the subnanosecond range. The dependence on photon energy is investigated and discussed.