Journal of the Optical Society of America B
High-efficiency two-channel magneto-optical switching and Kerr nonlinearity control using a static magnetic field in a degenerate four-level atomic medium
Hoang Minh Dong, Dinh Xuan Khoa, Le Van Doai, Nguyen Van Tam, Luong Thi Yen Nga
Abstract
We study control of the Kerr nonlinearity and two-channel magneto-optical switching based on optical bistability behavior in a degenerate Y-type four-level atom system under a static magnetic field. This excitation configuration can provide two transparent spectral regions on the probe absorption profile. It can be transitioned between the transparency and absorption regimes by turning on or off the magnetic field in different frequency domains. We can effortlessly transform single- to double-transparency windows, and vice versa, by adjusting the strength/direction of the magnetic field. The investigations showed the enhancement of the Kerr nonlinearity around single/double-EIT windows, thereby creating single/two-channel optical bistability in these frequency regions. Particularly, flexible high-efficiency two-channel magneto-optical switching can be made based on optical bistability behavior with fixed cavity input at different frequency regions. Additionally, the coupling field intensity and the probe frequency detuning have also significantly influenced the absorption spectrum, Kerr nonlinearity, and optical bistability. The proposed model is a representative application for optical switching, storage, and nonlinear logic gates in optical communications.