Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Optica Acta International Journal of Optics

Optical Bistability and Reversed Switching Effect in a Three-photon Resonant Medium

Surya P. Tewari, Saad S. M. Hassan

Published Aug 1, 1982• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We have developed, ab initio, a theory for the interaction of coherent laser light in three-photon resonance with two effective levels of a multilevel atom. The theory is developed to consider the optical bistability of homogeneously broadened, three-photon, resonant multilevel atoms inside a ring cavity. It is shown that optical bistable behaviour in the fundamental and the generated third harmonic can be obtained using, for example, Na atoms. The device may be useful in constructing two-channel, optical bistable switches. In certain nonlinear regimes it may be possible to obtain reversed switching between the fundamental and the third harmonic bistability.

DOI
10.1080/713820961

Related papers

Controlling Steady-State and Dynamical Properties of Atomic Optical Bistability

Amitabh Joshi, Min Xiao

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the theoretical and experimental studies of atomic optical bistability and multistability, and their dynamical properties in systems with two- and three-level inhomogeneously-broadened atoms inside an optical cavity. By making use of the modified linear absorption and dispersion, as well as the greatly enhanced nonlinearity in the three-level electromagnetically induced transparency system, the optical bistablity and efficient all-optical switching can be achieved at relatively low laser powers, which can be well controlled and manipulated. Until now, the rapid rate of progress in applications of multilevel systems in cross-disciplinary field has made it difficult to newcomers to the field to obtain a broad overview of this topic. This monograph will serve the purpose.

WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooks•Nov 20, 2011•22 citations

TWO-PHOTON OPTICAL MULTISTABILITY THEORY

Li Fu-Li, 中国科学技术大学物理系

The theory of the optical multistability by two-photon resonant interaction is investigated. The nonlinear medium inside a Fabry-Perot cavity is in two-photon resonance with the laser beam. The two-photon equation of state including dynamical Stark shift and relaxation parameters is obtained and studied under mean-field approximation. The equations for both Fabry-Perot cavity and ring cavity take basically the same form. The physics mechanisms resulting in optical multistability are also studied. It has been shown that the combined effects of Kerr switching and saturation absorption switching can lead to two-photon optical double-bistability, tristability as well as bistability. Furthermore, the criterion conditions under which double-bistability or tristability can occur are given and discussed. Finally, the phase-conjugated reflectivity by two-photon four-wave mixing is also shown to exhibit multistability as well as hysteresis.

Acta Physica Sinica•Jan 1, 1983•2 citations

Aspects of optical bistability in atomic sodium

Werner E Schulz

Experiments were performed on a bistable system consisting of a low finesse cavity and sodium atoms as the nonlinear medium. The atoms were excited by a dye laser system tuned to the D lines. Both ring and Fabry-Perot configurations were employed, and steady-state as well as transient behaviour was investigated. Flat mirrors of approximately 93% reflectivity were used in all experiments. With sodium vapour as the medium, experiments were performed in steady state, and a marked difference was observed in the behaviour of the Fabry-Perot cavity as compared to the ring set-up. This discrepancy could be explained when the sodium transition was modelled as a three - level lambda -type system, where the Doppler width is of the same order of magnitude as the ground state splitting. In this case the atoms with a Doppler shift close to half the ground state splitting have a major influence on the macroscopic refractive index. Extensive computer simulations were performed using this three -level model, and good qualitative agreement between experiment and theory was obtained for both types of cavity. A vacuum system containing a multiple atomic beam apparatus was constructed in order to reduce the Doppler width. Both the ring and the Fabry-Perot configuration could be set up inside the vacuum chamber.. The steady-state experiments displayed bistability when the laser intensity, laser frequency or cavity frequency were cycled. At higher atomic densities the system showed instabilities and multiple switching.

•Jan 1, 1985•0 citations

Switching Behavior of Bistable Resonators Filled with Two-Level Atoms

E. Chang, Gene D. Cooperman, M. Dagenais +1 more

A comprehensive numerical and analytical study of the switching dynamics of bistable optical devices is reported. The intracavity medium is modelled as an ensemble of two-level atoms which may be either homogeneously or inhomogeneously broadened. By allowing for arbitrary atomic detunings and cavity mistunings, both the absorptive and dispersive contributions to optical bistability are included. Standing waves are fully taken into account in the usual way through Fourier expansions.

Topical Meeting on Optical Bistability (OB)•Jan 1, 1983•0 citations

All-optical switching via enhanced Kerr nonlinearity in three-level atoms

Hai Wang, David J. Goorskey, Min Xiao

Summary form only given. The reduced absorption and enhanced nonlinearity in a three-level electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) system are very important in achieving an effective all-optical switching action. The Kerr-nonlinear index of refraction of a three-level EIT medium can be greatly enhanced near resonance due to atomic coherence induced in such a system in comparison with a two-level atomic system, as we have shown by using an optical ring cavity. Both the magnitude and sign of the Kerr-nonlinear index change dramatically for different frequency detunings of the controlling (or coupling) or cavity (or probe) field. Bistability and dynamic instability occur when such a three-level /spl Lambda/-type EIT system is placed inside an optical ring cavity and the controlling and cavity input intensities to exceed certain threshold values. In this paper, we present a recent experimental demonstration of controlling the cavity output intensity by modulating the frequency detuning of the controlling beam.

Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference•Jun 25, 2003•0 citations

Coherent control of optical bistability in Rydberg electromagnetically-induced transparency atomic system

You-Lin Chuang, Mehmet Emre Taşgın

We study optical bistable behavior of a Rydberg electromagnetically-induced transparency (EIT) atomic medium in a unidirectional optical ring-cavity. Due to strong van del Waal (vdW) interactions between the atoms, both optical nonlinear dispersion and nonlinear absorption coefficients are enhanced substantially. Under the condition of two-photon on resonance, we show that probe one-photon detuning can change the phase of the third order nonlinearity coefficient, which tunes the character of the optical bistability within different ratios of dispersive and absorptive types. This enables the single-photon control over photonic devices for further manipulation of light other than switches and transistors. More interestingly, we predict appearance of a scaling phenomena for optical bistabilities with the factors of coupling Rabi frequency and atomic density. Additionally, we also discuss the influence of the cavity detuning and the mirror transmission coefficient on the optical bistable behavior. The strong bistable feature provides a good ingredient for realizing all-optical logic gate devices in optical computing.

arXiv:1811.04776•Nov 12, 2018•0 citations
We have developed, ab initio, a theory for the interaction of coherent laser light in three-photon resonance with two effective levels of a multilevel atom. The theory is developed to consider the optical bistability of homogeneously broadened, three-photon, resonant multilevel atoms inside a ring cavity. It is shown that optical bistable behaviour in the fundamental and the generated third harmonic can be obtained using, for example, Na atoms. The device may be useful in constructing two-channel, optical bistable switches. In certain nonlinear regimes it may be possible to obtain reversed switching between the fundamental and the third harmonic bistability.
This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the theoretical and experimental studies of atomic optical bistability and multistability, and their dynamical properties in systems with two- and three-level inhomogeneously-broadened atoms inside an optical cavity. By making use of the modified linear absorption and dispersion, as well as the greatly enhanced nonlinearity in the three-level electromagnetically induced transparency system, the optical bistablity and efficient all-optical switching can be achieved at relatively low laser powers, which can be well controlled and manipulated. Until now, the rapid rate of progress in applications of multilevel systems in cross-disciplinary field has made it difficult to newcomers to the field to obtain a broad overview of this topic. This monograph will serve the purpose.
The theory of the optical multistability by two-photon resonant interaction is investigated. The nonlinear medium inside a Fabry-Perot cavity is in two-photon resonance with the laser beam. The two-photon equation of state including dynamical Stark shift and relaxation parameters is obtained and studied under mean-field approximation. The equations for both Fabry-Perot cavity and ring cavity take basically the same form. The physics mechanisms resulting in optical multistability are also studied. It has been shown that the combined effects of Kerr switching and saturation absorption switching can lead to two-photon optical double-bistability, tristability as well as bistability. Furthermore, the criterion conditions under which double-bistability or tristability can occur are given and discussed. Finally, the phase-conjugated reflectivity by two-photon four-wave mixing is also shown to exhibit multistability as well as hysteresis.
Experiments were performed on a bistable system consisting of a low finesse cavity and sodium atoms as the nonlinear medium. The atoms were excited by a dye laser system tuned to the D lines. Both ring and Fabry-Perot configurations were employed, and steady-state as well as transient behaviour was investigated. Flat mirrors of approximately 93% reflectivity were used in all experiments. With sodium vapour as the medium, experiments were performed in steady state, and a marked difference was observed in the behaviour of the Fabry-Perot cavity as compared to the ring set-up. This discrepancy could be explained when the sodium transition was modelled as a three - level lambda -type system, where the Doppler width is of the same order of magnitude as the ground state splitting. In this case the atoms with a Doppler shift close to half the ground state splitting have a major influence on the macroscopic refractive index. Extensive computer simulations were performed using this three -level model, and good qualitative agreement between experiment and theory was obtained for both types of cavity. A vacuum system containing a multiple atomic beam apparatus was constructed in order to reduce the Doppler width. Both the ring and the Fabry-Perot configuration could be set up inside the vacuum chamber.. The steady-state experiments displayed bistability when the laser intensity, laser frequency or cavity frequency were cycled. At higher atomic densities the system showed instabilities and multiple switching.
Summary form only given. The reduced absorption and enhanced nonlinearity in a three-level electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) system are very important in achieving an effective all-optical switching action. The Kerr-nonlinear index of refraction of a three-level EIT medium can be greatly enhanced near resonance due to atomic coherence induced in such a system in comparison with a two-level atomic system, as we have shown by using an optical ring cavity. Both the magnitude and sign of the Kerr-nonlinear index change dramatically for different frequency detunings of the controlling (or coupling) or cavity (or probe) field. Bistability and dynamic instability occur when such a three-level /spl Lambda/-type EIT system is placed inside an optical ring cavity and the controlling and cavity input intensities to exceed certain threshold values. In this paper, we present a recent experimental demonstration of controlling the cavity output intensity by modulating the frequency detuning of the controlling beam.
We study optical bistable behavior of a Rydberg electromagnetically-induced transparency (EIT) atomic medium in a unidirectional optical ring-cavity. Due to strong van del Waal (vdW) interactions between the atoms, both optical nonlinear dispersion and nonlinear absorption coefficients are enhanced substantially. Under the condition of two-photon on resonance, we show that probe one-photon detuning can change the phase of the third order nonlinearity coefficient, which tunes the character of the optical bistability within different ratios of dispersive and absorptive types. This enables the single-photon control over photonic devices for further manipulation of light other than switches and transistors. More interestingly, we predict appearance of a scaling phenomena for optical bistabilities with the factors of coupling Rabi frequency and atomic density. Additionally, we also discuss the influence of the cavity detuning and the mirror transmission coefficient on the optical bistable behavior. The strong bistable feature provides a good ingredient for realizing all-optical logic gate devices in optical computing.