We specialize the quantum-statistical theory of optical bistability developed in "Optical Bistability. II" to a low- $Q$ cavity. From a linearized Fokker-Planck equation derived in the positive $P$ representation, the steady-state correlation matrix and spectrum of fluctuations are calculated. Expressions which normally assume a positive-definite diffusion matrix are shown to be valid for nonpositive-definite diffusion. For absorptive bistability we find agreement with results derived previously by quite different methods. More generally we extend previously published results by including atomic and cavity detunings. We compare the transmitted spectrum for dispersive bistability with that for absorptive bistability, and photon antibunching in dispersive bistability is discussed.We specialize the quantum-statistical theory of optical bistability developed in "Optical Bistability. II" to a low-$Q$ cavity. From a linearized Fokker-Planck equation derived in the positive $P$ representation, the steady-state correlation matrix and spectrum of fluctuations are calculated. Expressions which normally assume a positive-definite diffusion matrix are shown to be valid for nonpositive-definite diffusion. For absorptive bistability we find agreement with results derived previously by quite different methods. More generally we extend previously published results by including atomic and cavity detunings. We compare the transmitted spectrum for dispersive bistability with that for absorptive bistability, and photon antibunching in dispersive bistability is discussed.

Physical Review AJun 1, 198335 citations

The absorption spectra of optical bistability with dispersion

Surya P. Tewari

Optics CommunicationsAug 1, 19804 citations

Optical bistability with dispersion

G. S. Agarwal, Surya P. Tewari

The purpose of this work is to study the behavior of atomic fluctuations and the spectrum of transmitted light by a nonlinear medium with absorption and dispersion. The authors make use of the system-size expansion and apply it to the quantum-mechanical Langevin's equations for the atomic operators and obtain the characteristic curves for bistable behavior, macroscopic atomic expectation values, and the spectrum of the atomic fluctuations. The calculated spectrum of transmitted light exhibits line narrowing near bistable thresholds, discontinuous formation of bands along the high-transmission bistable branch, and hysteresis effects, etc., for detuning $|\ensuremath{\delta}|$ less than a critical value ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{c}$. For $|\ensuremath{\delta}|>{\ensuremath{\delta}}_{c}$, the discontinuous character of all the physical variables of the system vanishes; the system no longer exhibits bistable behavior. The system, however, still shows cooperative and single-atom behavior separated by a critical value of the intensity of the incident coherent pump at which a critical slowing down of the medium occurs, exhibiting a phase transition.The purpose of this work is to study the behavior of atomic fluctuations and the spectrum of transmitted light by a nonlinear medium with absorption and dispersion. The authors make use of the system-size expansion and apply it to the quantum-mechanical Langevin's equations for the atomic operators and obtain the characteristic curves for bistable behavior, macroscopic atomic expectation values, and the spectrum of the atomic fluctuations. The calculated spectrum of transmitted light exhibits line narrowing near bistable thresholds, discontinuous formation of bands along the high-transmission bistable branch, and hysteresis effects, etc., for detuning $|\ensuremath{\delta}|$ less than a critical value ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{c}$. For $|\ensuremath{\delta}|>{\ensuremath{\delta}}_{c}$, the discontinuous character of all the physical variables of the system vanishes; the system no longer exhibits bistable behavior. The system, however, still shows cooperative and single-atom behavior separated by a critical value of the intensity of the incident coherent pump at which a critical slowing down of the medium occurs, exhibiting a phase transition.

Physical Review AMay 1, 198015 citations

We specialize the quantum-statistical theory of optical bistability developed in "Optical Bistability. II" to a low-

Q

cavity. From a linearized Fokker-Planck equation derived in the positive

P

representation, the steady-state correlation matrix and spectrum of fluctuations are calculated. Expressions which normally assume a positive-definite diffusion matrix are shown to be valid for nonpositive-definite diffusion. For absorptive bistability we find agreement with results derived previously by quite different methods. More generally we extend previously published results by including atomic and cavity detunings. We compare the transmitted spectrum for dispersive bistability with that for absorptive bistability, and photon antibunching in dispersive bistability is discussed.