Nonlinear disordered media for broad-band optical limiting

We analyze broad-band limiting behavior in nonlinear structures that are, on average, periodic. Introduction of a controlled degree of randomness in layer thicknesses results in widening of the stopband. Light at all of the frequencies in this broadened effective stopband of the structure with randomly perturbed layer thicknesses exhibits true optical limiting-clamping of the transmitted intensity below a fixed level independent of incident intensity. We explore the impact of the degree of randomization and the strength of the nonlinear mechanism on the smoothness and regularity of the limiting spectrum and on the localization of the light within these cyclostationary media. Optical limiting in integrable devices is of interest in optical logic, signal processing, and personnel and sensor protection.