Transmission regimes of periodic nonlinear optical structures

We investigate the input-output transmission regimes of optical structures with periodic nonlinear index. By deriving an analytical model from the Maxwell equations, we analyze the physical processes responsible for multistable and stable behavior. The threshold condition that separates multistable and stable transmission regimes is found exactly within the underlying model. We also derive analytical expressions for the limiting transmitted intensity in the stable regime and for the transmittance in the multistable regime in terms of optical wavelength and material parameters.