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Topical Meeting on Optical Bistability (OB)

Optical Bistability with Two-Level Atoms

Harry J. Kimble, Albert T. Rosenberger, P. D. Drummond

Published Jan 1, 1983• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Since the first observation of optical bistability in 1976 (1), a large number of investigations of this phenomenon have appeared in the literature (2). Of particular theoretical interest has been the bistable system composed of "two-level" atoms within an optical resonator. While the theory in this case is well-advanced, only recently have experimental results been obtained (3,4). The work that we report is for absorptive bistability with an intracavity medium that approximates a collection of two-level atoms.

DOI
10.1364/obi.1983.wha2

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Topical Meeting on Optical Bistability (OB)•Jan 1, 1983•1 citation
Since the first observation of optical bistability in 1976 (1), a large number of investigations of this phenomenon have appeared in the literature (2). Of particular theoretical interest has been the bistable system composed of "two-level" atoms within an optical resonator. While the theory in this case is well-advanced, only recently have experimental results been obtained (3,4). The work that we report is for absorptive bistability with an intracavity medium that approximates a collection of two-level atoms.
Observations of steady-state hysteresis in absorptive bistability are reported for well-collimated atomic beams of sodium within a traveling-wave interferometer. The atomic medium approximates a system of homogeneously broadened "two-level" atoms, and effects due to standing waves are eliminated. The experiment thus represents the first demonstration of optical bistability under conditions that have been widely employed in theoretical models. Absolute measurements of switching intensities versus atomic cooperativity CCC are reported, and a preliminary comparison with Gaussian-beam theory is made.
Observations of optical bistability are reported for a system composed of multiple atomic beams passing through a high-finesse optical cavity. Both the transmitted power and the intracavity fluorescent intensity have been recorded as functions of incident laser power for zero cavity and atomic detunings. A quantitative study has been made of the evolution of the steady-state switching intensities from well below the critical onset of bistability to well above this point. The results show reasonable agreement with a Gaussian-beam theory of optical bistability, but systematic departures are noted.
Absolute quantitative comparisons between experiment and theory are reported for the steady-state characteristics of optical bistability with two-state atoms in ring and in standing-wave resonators. The case treated here is the absorptive one, with both atoms and cavity resonant with the field. The experiment is designed to realize as closely as possible a standard theoretical model of two-state atoms interacting with a single mode of the electromagnetic field in a resonator and is described in detail. A detailed explanation is also given of the extensions to the standard theory that are needed to account for unavoidable experimental limitations such as transit broadening and the nonideal nature of the resonator. The good agreement observed between experiment and theory provides a foundation for quantitative investigation of nonlinear dynamics and quantum phenomena in this nonequilibrium optical system.
The phenomenon of optical bistability is usually treated within the framework of a single optical mode interacting with a two-level system. Recently, a number of authors1-5 have considered the two-mode case where the mode coupling gives rise to new interesting features such as optical tristability.2 In a specific case of particular interest, the coupling between orthogonally circular polarized modes arises from a two-photon resonance of the Zeeman sublevels.2,5 Bistability or tristability is then observed in the polarization characteristics of a single optical beam. Although Zeeman coherence effects are expected to play an important role, these have usually been neglected in a theoretical description of polarization bistability.2,4