Exploiting bifurcations in waveguide arrays for light detectors

An array of a finite number of waveguides, driven laterally by injecting light at the outer waveguides, is considered. The array is modeled by a discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation. It has been shown that, when the injected light is in the proximity of a bifurcation point, such a system can be sensitive to small disturbances, making it possible to act as a light detector. Here, the optimum intensity of the injected light is discussed, and an analytical approximation is presented.