Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics
Periodic waves in the theory of self-induced transparency
A. M. Kamchatnov, Maxim Valentinovich Pavlov
Abstract
A general singly periodic solution of the Maxwell-Bloch equations describing self-induced transparency in a medium composed of two-level atoms has been obtained. The solution is represented in effective form and depends on all four parameters of the problem (the Riemann invariants). The Whitham equations are derived, which give the evolution of the Riemann invariants for modulated periodic solutions. O 1995 American Institute of Physics.