Abstract. Nonlinear composite structures show great promise for use in optical switching, signal processing, etc. We derive an effective nonlinear dielectric permittivity of composite structures where coated ellipsoidal nonlinear particles are imbedded in a linear host medium. The derived expression for the effective dielectric permittivity tensor follows the Clasius–Mossotti approximation. We observe conditions for the existence of the optical bistability effect in a coated ellipsoidal particle with a nonlinear core and a metallic shell. Our numerical results show stronger bistability effects in more dense suspensions of nonlinear heterogeneous ellipsoids.

Print publication: Issue 5 (7 March 2003)
Received 3 October 2002
Published 14 February 2003