  We propose a new type of bistable device for silicon photonics, using the
self-electro-optic effect within an optical cavity. Since the bistability does
not depend on the intrinsic optical nonlinearity of the material, but is
instead engineered by means of an optoelectronic feedback, it appears at low
optical powers. This bistable device satisfies all the basic criteria required
in an optical switch to build a scalable digital optical computing system.
