A completely integrable 3-level Maxwell-Bloch system with rotational degeneracy

Sergey Leble, N. V. Ustinov

Luigi Lugiato, Franco Prati, M. Brambilla

Richard James Waterton

The dynamics of soliton pulses for use in nonlinear optical devices is mathematically modelled by Maxwell-Bloch systems of equations for the interaction of light with a uniform distribution of quantum-mechanical atoms. We study the Reduced Maxwell-Bloch (RMB) equations occurring when an ensemble of rotationally symmetric 3-level atoms is assumed. The model applies for on and off-resonance conditions and is completely integrable using Inverse Scattering theory, since it arises as the compatibility condition of a 3 x 3 AKNS-system. Furthermore this integrability remains valid for all timescales of the optical field because only the “one-way wave approximation” is required during the derivation. Solutions are constructed in two ways: 1. Darboux-Bäcklund transforms are applied, generating single soliton pulses of ultrashort (< 1ps) duration, and families of elliptically polarised 2-solitons not possible in lower dimensional problems. 2. A general Inverse Scattering scheme is developed and tested. The Direct Scattering Problem is dealt with first to obtain a complete set of scattering data. Subsequently the Inverse Problem is solved both formally and then in explicit closed form for the special case that the reflection coefficients vanish for real values of the spectral parameter. In this case the main result is a determined system of n linear algebraic equations which yield the n-soliton of our RMB-system. It is confirmed that the 1-solitons found by means of Darboux transform are precisely the same as those given by the full mechanism of Inverse Scattering. Finally we calculate the invariants of the motion for the RMB-equations, and derive an evolution equation giving the variation with propagation distance of the invariant functionals when the original RMB-system is modified by an arbitrary perturbing term. As an application dissipative effects on 1-solitons are considered.

Sergey Leble, Ustinov, N. V.

Maxwell-Bloch system describing the resonant propagation of electromagnetic pulses in both two-level media with degeneracy in angle moment projection and three-level media with equal oscillator forces is considered. The inhomogeneous broadening of energy levels is accounted. Binary Darboux Transformation generating the solutions of the system is constructed. Pulses corresponding to the transition between levels with largest population difference are shown to be stable. The solution describing the propargation of pulses in the medium exited by the periodic wave is obtained. The hierarchy of infinitesimal symmetries is obtained by means of Darboux transformation.

Christopher Feuillade

Da-Wei Zuo, Guifang Zhang