Nonperturbative Bistability in Periodic Nonlinear Media

Abstract

We present a mechanism for a bistability and multistability induced by a periodic modulation of a nonlinear medium. In contrast to usual ones it is nonperturbative with respect to the nonlinearity. The transmitted energy exhibits plateaus as a function of the incident intensity. The frequency versus intensity propagation diagram is fractal. The possible relevance to noise in the conductivity of systems with polarons and to optical, acoustical, or electromagnetic devices is discussed.