Temporal polarization instability is seen as an oscillatory or random variation in time of the polarization parameters of light interacting with a nonlinear system. Spatial polarization instability is the formation of ``frozen'' complex quasiperiodic or pseudochaotic distributions of the polarization parameters of a wave along the direction of propagation. The problem of polarization instability or multistability is intimately related to the polarization of eigenwaves in the nonlinear problem and their transformation as a result of ``hard'' and ``soft'' spontaneous polarization symmetry breaking. This paper presents a review of publications on polarization instabilities in passive nonlinear optical systems, including Fabry–Perot resonators, gyrotropic media, systems with strong two-photon absorption, birefringent crystals, fiber lightguides, and isotropic media.

RT Journal
T1 Polarization instability and multistability in nonlinear optics
A1 Zheludev,N.I.
PB Physics-Uspekhi
PY 1989
FD 10 Apr, 1989
JF Physics-Uspekhi
JO Phys. Usp.
VO 32
IS 4
SP 357-375
DO 10.1070/PU1989v032n04ABEH002702
LK https://ufn.ru/en/articles/1989/4/e/