Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics
Study of coherence effects in a four-level Ξ−Λ type system
Kavita Yadav, Ajay Wasan
Abstract
Abstract We theoretically study the two- and three-photon coherence in a Ξ−Λ type four-level system for stationary as well moving atoms at the room temperature using density matrix formalism. We discuss the role of dressed states to elucidate the electromagnetically induced transparency and electromagnetically induced absorption phenomena. The presence of the third field induces absorption at the line centre. A negative dispersion slope owing to the enhanced absorption results in super-luminal light propagation and the group index variation with the coupling field is switched from sub- to super-luminal. Group index with probe detuning shows super-luminal light propagation behaviour at the dressed state positions. The three optical fields trigger four-wave mixing as a result of the third order nonlinearity. The transient evolution is also discussed for optimum strengths of the coupling and drive fields to realize the optical switching in the system.