Journal of Modern Optics
An Inverse Scattering Method in Resonant Optical Problems with External Triggering
M. G. Benedict, István Németh
Abstract
We shall consider two resonant optical models. One is the reflection and transmission of ultrafast pulses on the boundary of a two-level medium. The other model is an ensemble of Rydberg atoms in a resonant cavity, where an external pulse is also coupled into the cavity to initiate the radiation. Both problems can be modelled by a nonlinear density matrix-type equation, where the effective Hamiltonian itself depends on the state of the atomic system. We present a new version of the inverse scattering method, which allows one to find soliton-like analytical solutions for the problems considered. Our work enlarges the class of optical problems having soliton type solutions.