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

Physical Review Letters

Optical Tristability

Masao Kitano, T. Yabuzaki, T. Ogawa

Published Apr 6, 1981• 110 citations
Publisher

Abstract

It is predicted with use of a simplified model that a Fabry-Perot cavity filled with atoms with Zeeman sublevels in the ground state should exhibit optical tristability via optical pumping. For linearly polarized incident light, three stable states appear in the polarization of the transmitted light; ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{+}$ dominant, ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ensuremath{-}}$ dominant, and linear polarizations. This optical tristability is discussed in the context of a butterfly catastrophe.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.46.926

Related papers

Observation of Optical Tristability in Sodium Vapors

S. Cecchi, Giovanni Giusfredi, E. Petriella +1 more

Optical tristability via optical pumping has been observed in the transmission of a Fabry-Perot interferometer containing Na vapor irradiated by light from a cw dye laser on the high-frequency wing of the ${D}_{1}$ line. For linearly polarized incident light, three stable states appear in the polarization of the transmitted light: ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{+}$ dominant, ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ensuremath{-}}$ dominant, and linear polarization.

Physical Review Letters•Dec 27, 1982•81 citations

Self-sustained spin precession in an optical tristable system

Masao Kitano, T. Yabuzaki, T. Ogawa

The dynamical behavior of a Fabry-Perot cavity filled with atoms having Zeeman sub-levels in the ground state is investigated. Such a system is known to exhibit optical tristability, where the atomic spins are oriented parallel or antiparallel to the optical axis even for the linearly polarized incident light. It is found that, when a static magnetic field is applied transversely to the optical axis, self-sustained precession of the spin polarization occurs. Correspondingly, the ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{+}$ and ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ensuremath{-}}$ components of the transmitted light are modulated at about the Larmor frequency. We also show that the Bloch equation describing the motion of the spin polarization in the cavity can be reduced to van der Pol's equation.

Physical Review A•Dec 1, 1981•39 citations

Optical multistability in sodium: analysis of a theoretical model

Xiaoguang Wu

We study a theoretical model that describes an optically pumped Fabry–Perot cavity filled with sodium vapor as a nonlinear absorptive medium. The nonlinear medium is subjected to a static magnetic field. A difference of population is built up between Zeeman sublevels of the ground state when the pump exceeds a threshold. This gives rise to a nonsymmetrical absorption of the two circularly polarized components of the incident light. The emphasis of this paper is on the derivation of analytic results. We show that the system can exhibit a self-pulsing behavior and that in a suitable domain of parameters the system has two or more steady states. This is known as optical bistability or optical multistability.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Jan 1, 1989•2 citations

Transmission Properties Of A Sodium-Filled Fabry-Perot

Giovanni Giusfredi, S Cecchi, E. Petriella +2 more

We report on systematic studies of the static and dynamic behavior of intensity and polarization of the light transmitted by a sodium-filled Fabry-Perot cavity. The device displays a rich variety of phenomena, including optical bistability, tristability, pitchfork bifurcation, as well as intrinsic oscillations. The behavior can be traced back to the simultaneous presence of Zeeman pumping and hyperfine pumping in the sodium ground state, combined with velocity selective hole burning effects.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Oct 14, 1986•0 citations

Magnetically Induced Relaxation Oscillations in a Sodium-Filled Fabry–Perot Resonator

Wulfhard K. Lange, Fedor M. Mitschke, R. Deserno +1 more

Optical pumping between ground-state Zeeman sublevels recently has attracted much attention as a nonlinear mechanism in optical bistability and tristability, under both steady-state1 and transient conditions.2 If, in addition to optical feedback, the Zeeman-pumped atoms are subjected to a transverse static magnetic field, new phenomena are known to arise,2–5 the most prominent among them being the self-sustained spin precession.4,5 We report on new results and systematic studies on the various types of magnetically induced optical multistabilities in a sodium-filled Fabry-Perot resonator.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Jan 1, 1984•1 citation

Mutistability and oscilations in the polarization of light transmitted by a Na vapor-filled Fabry-Perot: D1 inhormogeneous line

Giovanni Giusfredi, P. Salieri, S. CECCHI +1 more

In the first experiment on optical bistability (OB),1 nonlinear dispersion was provided by hyperfine optical pumping between the F = 1 and F = 2 Na ground state subleveis induced by linearly polarized light tuned on the D2 line. Later, with circularly polarized light tuned on the D1 line and longitudinal Zeeman pumping, we obtained low-power OB2 and optical instability (OT) based on polarization switching.3

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 1985•0 citations
It is predicted with use of a simplified model that a Fabry-Perot cavity filled with atoms with Zeeman sublevels in the ground state should exhibit optical tristability via optical pumping. For linearly polarized incident light, three stable states appear in the polarization of the transmitted light; \ensuremathσ+{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{+}\ensuremathσ+​ dominant, \ensuremathσ\ensuremath−{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremathσ\ensuremath−​ dominant, and linear polarizations. This optical tristability is discussed in the context of a butterfly catastrophe.
Optical tristability via optical pumping has been observed in the transmission of a Fabry-Perot interferometer containing Na vapor irradiated by light from a cw dye laser on the high-frequency wing of the D1{D}_{1}D1​ line. For linearly polarized incident light, three stable states appear in the polarization of the transmitted light: ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{+}$ dominant, ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ensuremath{-}}$ dominant, and linear polarization.
The dynamical behavior of a Fabry-Perot cavity filled with atoms having Zeeman sub-levels in the ground state is investigated. Such a system is known to exhibit optical tristability, where the atomic spins are oriented parallel or antiparallel to the optical axis even for the linearly polarized incident light. It is found that, when a static magnetic field is applied transversely to the optical axis, self-sustained precession of the spin polarization occurs. Correspondingly, the ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{+}$ and ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ensuremath{-}}$ components of the transmitted light are modulated at about the Larmor frequency. We also show that the Bloch equation describing the motion of the spin polarization in the cavity can be reduced to van der Pol's equation.
We study a theoretical model that describes an optically pumped Fabry–Perot cavity filled with sodium vapor as a nonlinear absorptive medium. The nonlinear medium is subjected to a static magnetic field. A difference of population is built up between Zeeman sublevels of the ground state when the pump exceeds a threshold. This gives rise to a nonsymmetrical absorption of the two circularly polarized components of the incident light. The emphasis of this paper is on the derivation of analytic results. We show that the system can exhibit a self-pulsing behavior and that in a suitable domain of parameters the system has two or more steady states. This is known as optical bistability or optical multistability.
Optical pumping between ground-state Zeeman sublevels recently has attracted much attention as a nonlinear mechanism in optical bistability and tristability, under both steady-state1 and transient conditions.2 If, in addition to optical feedback, the Zeeman-pumped atoms are subjected to a transverse static magnetic field, new phenomena are known to arise,2–5 the most prominent among them being the self-sustained spin precession.4,5 We report on new results and systematic studies on the various types of magnetically induced optical multistabilities in a sodium-filled Fabry-Perot resonator.