Observation of optical bistability in CdS(x)Se(1-x)-doped glasses with 25-psec switching time

We report the first observation to our knowledge of optical bistability in CdS(x)Se(1-x)-doped glasses with rise and fall times of 25 psec for bistable switching. The third-order nonlinear susceptibility chi((3)) was estimated experimentally to be 1.3 x 10(-9) esu, which is in good agreement with the value reported previously. The high-speed switching and value of chi((3)) show that the bistability is caused by an optical nonlinearity that is attributed to the band-filling effect.