A global stability analysis for symmetric self-electrooptic effect device systems using a potential function method

This paper proposes a novel analytical method for use in symmetric self-electrooptic effect device (S-SEED) systems, called the potential function method, based on a global stability analysis of differential equations for photocurrent in S-SEED circuits. The method provides intuitive views for analyzing the stability of the system, and is useful for tracking the temporal dynamics of S-SEED nonlinear electrical circuits. This paper also describes electro-absorption characteristics of SEED's, especially those based on Wannier Stark localization (WSL). In this type of SEED, the photocurrent versus reverse bias voltage characteristics has multiple peaks and multiple negative differential resistance regions, resulting from Stark ladder transitions due to thin barrier superlattices. Various types of stabilities, including the metastable state, as well as the temporal switching dynamics of WSL-S-SEEDs, can be explained clearly by using this potential function method.<
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