Optical bistability via tunable Fano-type interference in asymmetric semiconductor quantum wells

We analyze hybrid absorptive-dispersive optical bistability (OB) behavior via tunable Fano-type interference based on intersubband transitions in asymmetric double quantum wells (QWs) driven coherently by a probe laser field by means of a unidirectional ring cavity. We show that OB can be controlled efficiently by tuning the energy splitting of the two excited states (the coupling strength of the tunnelling), the Fano-type interference, and the frequency detuning. The influence of the electronic cooperation parameter on the OB behavior is also discussed. This investigation may be used for optimizing and controlling the optical switching process in the QW solid-state system, which is much more practical than that in atomic system because of its flexible design and the controllable interference strength.     

Controlling the optical bistability in a Λ-type atomic system via incoherent pump field

We investigated optical bistability (OB) and the absorption properties of a weak probe field in a three-level Λ-type atomic system confined in a unidirectional ring cavity via incoherent pump field. We found that the threshold of OB and the probe field absorption can be controlled by the rate of incoherent pump field. No laser field was used in the pumping processes.     

Controlling the optical bistability via quantum interference in a four-level N-type atomic system

We investigate the optical bistability (OB) and optical multi-stability (OM) in a four-level N-type atomic system. The effect of spontaneously generated coherence (SGC) on OB and OM is then discussed. It is found that SGC makes the medium phase dependent, so the optical bistability and multi-stability threshold can be controlled via relative phase between applied fields. We realize that the frequency detuning of probe and coupling fields with the corresponding atomic transition plays an important role in creation OB and OM. Moreover, the effect of laser coupling fields and an incoherent pumping field on reduction of OB and OM threshold is then discussed.     

Optical bistability in a triple semiconductor quantum well structure with tunnelling-induced interference

We study the behavior of optical bistability (OB) in a triple semiconductor quantum well structure with tunnelling-induced interference, where the system is driven coherently by the probe laser inside the unidirectional ring cavity. The results show that we are able to control efficiently the bistable threshold intensity and the hysteresis loop by tuning the parameters of the system such as laser frequency and tunnelling-induced frequency splitting. This investigation can be used for the development of new types of nanoelectronic devices for realizing switching process.     

Controllable Optical Bistability and Multistability in a Four-Level Atomic System with Closed-Loop Configuration

We theoretically investigate optical bistability （OB） and multistability （OM） behaviour of a closed-loop configuration atomic system driven by a degenerate coupling- field and a degenerate probe field inside a unidirectional ring cavity. It is found that the OB and OM behaviour can be controlled by adjusting- the intensity and the frequency detuning of the coupling- field, respectively. Interestingly, our numerical results show that it is easy to realize the transition from OB to OM or vice versa by adjusting- the intensity of the coupling- field under a appropriate frequency detuning. The effect of the atomic cooperation parameter on the OB behaviour is also discussed.     

Giant Kerr nonlinearities and slow optical solitons in coupled double quantum-well nanostructure

We investigate the enhancement of Kerr nonlinearities in an asymmetric coupled double quantum-well (CQW) by analyzing the nonlinear optical response. With the consideration of real parameters in AlGaAs-based CQWs, we indicate the possibility to obtain the giant Kerr nonlinearities with the cancellation of linear absorption simultaneously. We also reveal both analytically and numerically that under appropriate conditions a probe field with very low intensity can evolve into a stable shape-preserving waveform that propagates with a slow group velocity. The stability of such slow optical solitons is also demonstrated numerically.     

Optical bistability in low-dimensional semiconductor heterostructures under cw pump laser and infrared pulse signals

We have investigated theoretically the optical bistability (OB) and optical multistability in quantum-well (QW) semiconductor heterostructures. The effect of a cw pump laser field and a control infrared pulse signal on OB is discussed. It is found that the OB threshold can be controlled by varying the strength of applied fields. It is also shown that OB can be switched to optical multistability or vice versa just using an appropriate relative phase of applied fields. This investigation may open up some new possibilities for applications in all-optical switching in quantum-well structures.     

Controllable Optical Bistability in a Crystal of Molecular Magnets System

We investigate the formation of optical bistability (OB) in a crystal of molecular magnets contained in a unidirectional ring cavity. The crystal is subjected to one dc magnetic field and two (probe and coupling) ac resonant magnetic field. The results show that OB can be controlled efficiently by adjusting the intensity of the control field, the detuning of probe magnetic field and the cooperation parameter. Furthermore, within certain parameter range, the optical multistablity (OM) can also be observed in the crystal medium. This investigation can be used for designing new types of nonelectronic devices for realizing switching process.     

Optical bistability and multi-stability in a four-level atomic scheme

We investigate the optical bistability (OB) and optical multi-stability (OM) in a four-level Y-type atomic system. It is found that the optical bistability can strongly be affected by intensity and frequency detuning of coupling and probe fields. The effect of spontaneously generated coherence on phase control of the OB and OM is then discussed. It has also been shown that the optical bistability can be switched to optical multi-stability just by the quantum interference mechanism and relative phase of applied fields.     

氮化物半导体耦合量子阱中非线性光整流特性:压电效应与自发极化效应

考虑了由于压电与自发极化引起的强内电场效应,基于密度矩阵与久期处理方法,理论考察了纤锌矿氮化物半导体耦合量子阱体系的非线性光整流特性。根据已经成功建立的耦合量子阱的内建电场模型,精确求解了体系的电子本征态。以典型的GaN/InxGa1-xN纤锌矿氮化物耦合量子阱为例进行了数值计算,结果发现共振光整流系数达到了10-6m/V的量级(体系的偶极矩阵元大小超过了2nm),这比同样尺寸的单氮化物量子阱的相应值高一个数量级。而且,计算还发现光整流系数对耦合量子阱的结构与掺杂组分呈现非单调的依赖关系,这一特性被归结为体系的强内建电场与量子尺寸效应对载流子受限特性的强烈竞争。计算结果还表明,通过选择小尺寸阱宽与垒宽的耦合量子阱,适当降低掺杂组分,可在氮化物耦合量子阱中获得较强的光整流效应。     

Phase-controlled absorption-gain properties and optical switching in nanodiamond nitrogen-vacancy center

We study phase-controlled absorption-gain and dynamic switching behaviors in a nanodiamond nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center. The NV center is driven coherently by a weak probe laser field, a control laser field and a microwave field. To describe the transient behavior of the system, we go beyond the steady-state approximation and simultaneously solve the coupled Bloch–Maxwell equations for the NV center and the probe field on numerical grids as functions of space and time. The results show that the continuous-wave input weak probe field can be switched on and off when the relative phase of the applied field is externally varied periodically in time. The proposed scheme may have applications in the design of optical switching and optical gain devices.     

Coherent laser-induced optical behaviors in three-coupled-quantum wells and their application to terahertz signal detection

We investigate quantum optical behaviors of a weak-probe laser field in an asymmetric semiconductor three-coupled-quantum wells (TCQW) structure based on intersubband transitions (ISBTs) via switch-on/off of terahertz (TH) signal radiation under the application of a control laser field. A scheme for TH signal detection and its strength measurement based on this probe absorption characteristic also are put forward, where TH signal field does not interact directly with electron, but significantly affects the coherent optical absorption properties of such a weak-probe laser field. Consequently, the proposed TCQW nanostructure may be used for reducing and cancelling out the important thermionic dark current component in the process of TH signal detection, measurement and photodetector design.     

级联型四能级原子相干介质中的光学双稳态和多稳态

主要研究了在一单向环形腔内的级联型四能级原子被三个光场驱动的光学双稳态和多稳态行为. 三个单模光场通过三个光子跃迁路径与原子系统耦合. 在这种情况下,中间两能级间所加的耦合场Ω_B变得非常重要. 研究显示耦合场Ω_B的增加会使光学双稳态的阈值减小,同时也会导致光学多稳态的产生.对上面两能级间所加的耦合场的作用也进行了讨论,同时还讨论了探测场失谐和合作参数对光学双稳态及多稳态的影响. 关键词： 原子相干 光学双稳态和多稳态 四能级原子     

Nonlocal optical properties in AlGaAs/GaAs coupled quantum well nanostructures

Nonlocal intersubband optical absorption properties in AlGaAs/GaAs coupled quantum well (CQW) nanostructures are investigated for a p-polarized light in the case of taking spatial nonlocality of optical response into account. The numerical results show that the spatial nonlocality of optical response can lead optical spectrum lines to have a radiation shift due to the nonlocal effects, and the spatial nonlocality is associated closely with the coupling effects between the potential wells of the CQW system. The dependence of the radiation shift on structure parameters of the CQW is clarified. It is also demonstrated that the maximal radiation shift and the least optical absorbance can be obtained by optimizing structure parameters of the CQW. These results may be constructive in designing nanomaterials with various nonlocality and observing the spatial nonlocal effects in experiment.     

Control over hysteresis curves and thresholds of optical bistability in different semiconductor double quantum wells

The effects of optical field on the phenomenon of optical bistability(OB) are investigated in a K-type semiconductor double quantum well(SDQW) under various parametric conditions. It is shown that the OB threshold can be manipulated by increasing the intensity of coupling field. The dependence of the shift of OB hysteresis curve on probe wavelength detuning is then explored. In order to demonstrate controllability of the OB in this SDQW, we compare the OB features of three different configurations which could arise in this SDQW scheme, i.e., K-type, Y-type, and inverted Y-type systems. The controllability of this semiconductor nanostructure medium makes the presented OB scheme more valuable for applications in all-optical switches, information storage, and logic circuits of all optical information processing.     

All-Optical Switching between Optical Bistability and Multistability via Exciton Spin Relaxation

All-optical coherent control of optical bistability(OB) and optical multistability(OM) in the 4.8 nm Zn Se single-quantum well based on excitons and biexciton transitions is investigated. By applying a pair of phase-locked laser pulses all-optical coherent control can be obtained. Theoretical analysis with density matrix and Maxwell equations then yield the optical bistability and optical multistability. It is shown that by controlling the coherent and incoherent processes, the intensity threshold of OB and OM can be modified. Also, it is found that the switching between OB and OM or vice versa can be occurred for some controllable parameters.     

Optical bistability and multistability via atomic coherence in the quasi-Λ-type atomic system

The steady-state optical bistability (OB) and optical multistability (OM) behavior in the quasi-Λ-type atomic system driven by a probe field and a coherent coupling field inside a unidirectional ring cavity are shown, and the effects of coupling-field detuning and coupling-field intensity on the OB and OM behavior are investigated. The transition from OB to OM or vice versa is found by varying the detuning of the coherent coupling field or by adjusting the intensity of the coupling field. The influence of the atomic cooperation parameter on the OM behavior is also discussed. Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi of China (Grant No. 2007GZW0819), the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2005CB724508), and the Foundation of Talent of Jinggang of Jiangxi Province (Grant No. 2008DQ00400)     

Control of the threshold intensity and hysteresis cycle of optical Bi(multi)stability via atomic injection and exit rates from cavity

The optical bistability (OB) and multistability (OM) in an open Λ-type three-level atomic system inside a ring cavity are investigated. It is found that the ratio of atomic injections β and the exit rates r ₀ from cavity evidently affects the threshold intensity of OB and OM. The effect of incoherent pumping field on the OB and OM of a medium is discussed. We show that the bistable behavior of the open system significantly differs from that in a corresponding closed system, especially with an increase in the incoherent pump rate. The intensity threshold is reduced in an open system but increases in a closed system. In addition, the dependence of OB and OM in an open system on spontaneously generated coherence, the relative phase the between probe and coupling fields, the coupling-field intensity, and the cooperation parameter are briefly discussed.     

Control of the switch between optical multistability and bistability in three-level V-type atoms

We theoretically investigated a hybrid absorptive-dispersive optical bistability and multistability behaviour in a three-level V-type system using a microwave field driving a hyperfine transition between two upper excited states inside a unidirectional ring cavity. We find that the intensity and the frequency detuning of the coupling field as well as the intensity of the microwave field can affect the OM behaviour dramatically, which can be used to control the transition from OM to OB or vice versa without need to resort the effect of the quantum interference. The effects of the phase, the quantum interference and the atomic cooperation parameter on the OM are also studied. Our scheme may be used for building more efficient all-optical switches and logic-gate devices for optical computing and quantum information processing.     

Intense laser effects on the optical properties of asymmetric GaAs double quantum dots under applied electric field

We investigated the combined effects of a non-resonant intense laser field and a static electric field on the electronic structure and the nonlinear optical properties (absorption, optical rectification) of a GaAs asymmetric double quantum dot under a strong probe field excitation. The calculations were performed within the compact density-matrix formalism under steady state conditions using the effective mass approximation. Our results show that: (i) the electronic structure and optical properties are sensitive to the dressed potential; (ii) under applied electric fields, an increase of the laser intensity induces a redshift of the optical absorption and rectification spectra; (iii) the augment of the electric field strength leads to a blueshift of the spectra; (iv) for high electric fields the optical spectra show a shoulder-like feature, related with the occurrence of an anti-crossing between the two first excited levels.