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

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE

Intrinsic Optical Bistability In Systems Of Spacially Distributed Two-Level Atoms: Conditions Of Stability And Instability

Y. Ben-Aryeh, Charles M. Bowden, John C. Engl and

Published Oct 14, 1986• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We use a fully quantum, many-body treatment to show mirrorless optical bistability in terms of the spacial properties of interacting two-level systems. The bistability effects are related to the coherent dipole-dipole interactions which introduce an inversion-dependent renormalization of the frequency (or relaxation). Conditions of stability and instability are discussed for a thin sample of two-level atoms with a width smaller than a wavelength. For a long sample of two-level atoms, we find that the two phases of high transmissivity and low transmissivity may coexist spacially in the material.

DOI
10.1117/12.938872

Related papers

Intrinsic optical bistability in collections of spatially distributed two-level atoms

Y. Ben-Aryeh, C. M. Bowden, John C. Englund

We use a quantum-electrodynamical, many-body treatment to show mirrorless optical bistability in terms of the spatial properties of coherent dipole-dipole interactions among interacting two-level atoms. The general theory is applied to two special cases: (1) a thin sample of two-level atoms, with a width smaller than a resonance wavelength and (2) a long sample of two-level atoms, with dimensions very large relative to a resonance wavelength. While for the thin sample we are able to use a mean-field approximation with validity, for the long sample we are compelled to take into account retardation and propagation. In both cases bistability is found to be related to a renormalization of the frequency (or relaxation rate) that is inversion dependent. For the long sample the frequency renormalization is significant for high atomic densities and for large oscillator strengths.

Physical Review A•Nov 1, 1986•156 citations

Mirrorless Optical Bistability Due to Coherent Dipole-Dipole Interactions in a Spacially Distributed Collection of Two-level Systems

Y. Ben-Aryeh, Charles M. Bowden

Atomic cooperative effects in mirrorless (intrinsic) optical bistability (MOB) have been treated, so far, either by assuming a small volume with dimensions smaller than a wavelength1,2, or by assuming a system with a small number of atoms3. In the present work we discuss MOB based upon cooperative effects among atoms in a system consisting of many two-level atoms, considering explicitly the spacial dependence of the coherent dipole-dipole interactions.

Topical Meeting on Optical Bistability (OB)•Jan 1, 1985•1 citation

Dynamics of switching and spatial first-order phase transition in intrinsic optical bistability

Ramarao Inguva, Charles M. Bowden

A system of coherently driven spatially distributed two-level atoms, coupled with each other via dipole–dipole interaction, exhibits intrinsic optical bistability (IOB) at solid-state densities,1 i.e., optical bistability without optical feedback. The origin of the IOB was shown to be due to inversion-dependent renormalization of the single-atom resonance frequency caused by dipole–dipole interaction among the atoms located mainly within an atomic resonance wavelength.2 For normally incident plane waves of intensity beyond threshold, a spatially dependent discontinuity in the nonlinear refractive index was shown to exist inside the medium,1 corresponding to spatial separation of the high and low absorption phases of the IOB. We present numerical results for the time-dependent solutions of the equations of motion and dynamics of the field propagation.

Annual Meeting Optical Society of America•Jan 1, 1988•0 citations

Intrinsic Bi-Stability Due to Local Dipole–Dipole Interactions in Two-Level Systems and in Excited Crystalline Atomic Dimers

Y. Ben-Aryeh

Intrinsic optical bi-stability in dense two-level systems is developed for the bad cavity limit where electromagnetic modes are adiabatically eliminated. Each atom interacts via dipole–dipole forces with its nearby spatial distribution of atoms. The theory is developed into two parts, corresponding to the short sample, with dimensions shorter than the wavelength, and the long sample. In both cases, the local field corrections modify the Maxwell–Bloch equations, so that cubic or quartic equations are obtained for the inversion of population as a function of the external light intensity, thus leading to intrinsic bi-stability. The effects of noise sources on intrinsic bi-stability were treated, and I found that while the observability of bi-stability was not obtained experimentally for a simple two-level system, there were many observations of bi-stability obtained through the ‘up-conversion’ of rare earth excited crystals. I show the differences between these two systems.

Solids•Dec 23, 2025•0 citations

Intrinsic optical bistability with squeezed vacuum

Sunita Singh, Jagdish Rai, C. M. Bowden +1 more

Intrinsic optical bistability due to dipole-dipole interactions among interacting two-level atoms shows strong phase dependence in the presence of a squeezed vacuum. We show that by varying the relative phase between the squeezed vacuum and the incident field, it is possible to excite the system of two-level atoms from the lower to upper branch of the bistable curve. On this basis, an optical switch that utilizes this phase dependence for intrinsic optical bistability is proposed.

Physical Review A•Apr 1, 1992•53 citations

Mirrorless Optical Bistability of Thin Layer with Resonant Two-Level Atoms in Ultrashort Light Pulse Field

Viktor A. Malyshev, Evgenii Dmitrievich Trifonov, А. И. Зайцев +1 more

We investigate the problem of resonant re flection and transmission of an ultrashort light pulse passing through a medium consisting of two-level atoms. We show that for a thin layer it is important to take into account the difference between the external macroscopic field and the field acting on the individual atoms within the medium. The local field correction leads to an inversion dependent resonant frequency. In thin layers this generates a new mechanism of nonlinear transparency induced by the dynamical frequency shift. When the excitation frequency is larger than the original resonant frequency, then the transmission of the layer exhibits bistable behavior.

Nonlinear Dynamics in Optical Systems•Jan 1, 1990•0 citations
We use a fully quantum, many-body treatment to show mirrorless optical bistability in terms of the spacial properties of interacting two-level systems. The bistability effects are related to the coherent dipole-dipole interactions which introduce an inversion-dependent renormalization of the frequency (or relaxation). Conditions of stability and instability are discussed for a thin sample of two-level atoms with a width smaller than a wavelength. For a long sample of two-level atoms, we find that the two phases of high transmissivity and low transmissivity may coexist spacially in the material.
We use a quantum-electrodynamical, many-body treatment to show mirrorless optical bistability in terms of the spatial properties of coherent dipole-dipole interactions among interacting two-level atoms. The general theory is applied to two special cases: (1) a thin sample of two-level atoms, with a width smaller than a resonance wavelength and (2) a long sample of two-level atoms, with dimensions very large relative to a resonance wavelength. While for the thin sample we are able to use a mean-field approximation with validity, for the long sample we are compelled to take into account retardation and propagation. In both cases bistability is found to be related to a renormalization of the frequency (or relaxation rate) that is inversion dependent. For the long sample the frequency renormalization is significant for high atomic densities and for large oscillator strengths.
A system of coherently driven spatially distributed two-level atoms, coupled with each other via dipole–dipole interaction, exhibits intrinsic optical bistability (IOB) at solid-state densities,1 i.e., optical bistability without optical feedback. The origin of the IOB was shown to be due to inversion-dependent renormalization of the single-atom resonance frequency caused by dipole–dipole interaction among the atoms located mainly within an atomic resonance wavelength.2 For normally incident plane waves of intensity beyond threshold, a spatially dependent discontinuity in the nonlinear refractive index was shown to exist inside the medium,1 corresponding to spatial separation of the high and low absorption phases of the IOB. We present numerical results for the time-dependent solutions of the equations of motion and dynamics of the field propagation.
Intrinsic optical bi-stability in dense two-level systems is developed for the bad cavity limit where electromagnetic modes are adiabatically eliminated. Each atom interacts via dipole–dipole forces with its nearby spatial distribution of atoms. The theory is developed into two parts, corresponding to the short sample, with dimensions shorter than the wavelength, and the long sample. In both cases, the local field corrections modify the Maxwell–Bloch equations, so that cubic or quartic equations are obtained for the inversion of population as a function of the external light intensity, thus leading to intrinsic bi-stability. The effects of noise sources on intrinsic bi-stability were treated, and I found that while the observability of bi-stability was not obtained experimentally for a simple two-level system, there were many observations of bi-stability obtained through the ‘up-conversion’ of rare earth excited crystals. I show the differences between these two systems.
We investigate the problem of resonant re flection and transmission of an ultrashort light pulse passing through a medium consisting of two-level atoms. We show that for a thin layer it is important to take into account the difference between the external macroscopic field and the field acting on the individual atoms within the medium. The local field correction leads to an inversion dependent resonant frequency. In thin layers this generates a new mechanism of nonlinear transparency induced by the dynamical frequency shift. When the excitation frequency is larger than the original resonant frequency, then the transmission of the layer exhibits bistable behavior.