Optical bistability induced by mirror absorption: measurement of absorption coefficients at the sub-ppm level

Abstract

We have observed optical bistability caused by absorption-induced thermal expansion of mirrors forming a Fabry-Perot interferometer. From the resulting anomalous transmission line shapes, absorption coefficients of the mirror coatings as low as 0.2 parts in 10(6) (ppm) have been successfully measured. (C) 1997 Optical Society of America.