Two photon induced optical bistability in CdHgTe at room temperature

We report the first observation of quasi-steady state optical bistability in a 360 μm thick, uncoated Cd
0.23
Hg
0.77
Te etalon at room temperature as a result of the generation of free carriers through two photon absorption of pulsed 10.6 μm radiation from a hybrid TEA CO
2
laser (FWHM = 1.75 μs). The experimental results are compared with the predictions of a computer model.