All-optical transistor action by off-resonant activation at laser threshold

The development of viable all-optical data processing systems has immense importance for both the computing and telecommunication industries, but device realization remains elusive. In this Letter, we propose an innovative mechanism deployed as a basis for all optical transistor action. In detail, it is determined that an optically pumped system, operating just below laser threshold, can exhibit a greatly enhanced output on application of an off-resonant beam of sufficient intensity. The electrodynamics of the underlying, nonlinear optical mechanism is analyzed, model calculations are performed, and the results are illustrated graphically.