Dynamic shift effect on bistability in nonlinear optical microcavities.

The shift of optical cavity modes oscillates due to the time-varying refractive index under Kerr nonlinearity. To reveal its impact on bistability, we present a time-average approach that includes this dynamic shift characteristic in the expression of nonlinear transmission. It predicts the monotonous decrease of the maximum transmission with the increase of the frequency detuning. Also, the frequency detuning to start bistability should be corrected as about 2. Our analyses are supported by the simulations based on the finite-difference time-domain technique.