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Physical Review A

Phase control of group velocity: From subluminal to superluminal light propagation

D. Bortman-Arbiv, A. D. Wilson‐Gordon, Harry Friedmann

Published Mar 20, 2001• 182 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We show that the group velocity of a weak pulse can be manipulated by controlling the phases of two weak optical fields applied to a V-shaped three-level system. Such control can even cause the probe propagation to change from subluminal to superluminal. We consider two schemes: in the first, the excited states are coupled by decay-induced coherence, which is an inherent property of the medium, and in the second, quantum coherence is created by coupling the excited states to each other by a strong microwave field. We also discuss the group velocity reduction experienced by a single weak propagating probe due to decay-induced coherence.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.63.043818

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We show that the group velocity of a weak pulse can be manipulated by controlling the phases of two weak optical fields applied to a V-shaped three-level system. Such control can even cause the probe propagation to change from subluminal to superluminal. We consider two schemes: in the first, the excited states are coupled by decay-induced coherence, which is an inherent property of the medium, and in the second, quantum coherence is created by coupling the excited states to each other by a strong microwave field. We also discuss the group velocity reduction experienced by a single weak propagating probe due to decay-induced coherence.
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We study the change of the probe field group velocity from subluminal to superluminal range for two kinds of closed three-level V-type system with spontaneously generated coherence and incoherent pumping field. For the first kind of the V-type system we deduce the analytical formula of the group velocity, while for the second kind of the V-type system we solve numerically the density matrix equations system and apply it to a real system from the LiH molecule. We find that the group index of the probe field can be changed from positive to negative within the appropriate choice of the relative phase between the probe and coupling field phases, the incoherent pumping rate and probe detuning.