Optical bistability in gaussian inhomogeneously broadened ring lasers with saturable absorber

The optical bistability (OB) in Gaussian inhomogeneously broadened ring lasers with saturable absorber (LSA) in both resonance and out-of-resonance is theoretically analyzed in the rate-equation approximation based on the dual two-level model. The OB effect may appear for appropriate sets of LSA control parameter values which can be displayed in phase diagrams. The characteristics of the OB curves as well as their stability behavior are analytically and numerically studied in detail. The influence of the control parameters, including detuning, are investigated and displayed in the figures. A brief comparison with the Lorentzian case is given as well. Paper submitted by authors in English April 20, 1999.     

Observation of Optical Bistability and Multi-Stability in the Dielecrtric Slab Doped with a Quantum well Waveguide

The optical bistability (OB) and multi-stability (OM) behavior in a dielectric slab medium doped with semiconductor quantum well nanostructure has been discussed by employing the spin coherence effect. It is shown that, by changing the relative phase of applied fields the bistable behavior switches from OB to OM or vice versa in a dielectric medium. The effect of the frequency detuning of laser fields on the OB and OM behavior are also discussed in this paper.     

Optical bistability and multi-stability via voltage-controlled and the rate of incoherent pump in a quantum dot nanostructure

The optical bistability (OB) and optical multi-stability (OM) in a four-level quantum dot molecule are investigated. The effect of tunnel coupling and the rate of incoherent pump on OB are then discussed. It is found that the OB threshold can be controlled via tunnel coupling and the rate of incoherent pump. We demonstrate that the voltage-controlled detuning can significantly affect the behavior of OB and OM, therefore the OM converts to OB only by the rate of incoherent pump. The results obtained can be used for the development of new types of nanoelectronic devices for realizing switching process.     

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)     

Laser-polarization-dependent and magnetically controlled optical bistability in diamond nitrogen-vacancy centers

We explore laser-polarization-dependent and magnetically controlled optical bistability (OB) in an optical ring cavity filled with diamond nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defect centers under optical excitation. The shape of the OB curve can be significantly modified in a new operating regime from the previously studied OB case, namely, by adjusting the intensity of the external magnetic field and the polarization of the control beam. The influences of the intensity of the control beam, the frequency detuning, and the cooperation parameter on the OB behavior are also discussed in detail. These results are useful in real experiments for realizing an all-optical bistate switching or coding element in a solid-state platform.     

Effect of Quantum Interference from Incoherent Pumping Field and Spontaneous Emission on Controlling the Optical Bistability and Multi-Stability

Optical bistability (OB) and optical multi-stability (OM) of a four-level Λ-type atomic system with two fold lower levels inside a unidirectional ring cavity is investigated. The effect of quantum interference arising from spontaneous emission and incoherent pumping on OB and OM is discussed. It is found that the threshold of OB and OM can be controlled by quantum interference mechanisms. In addition intensity of coupling field and the rate of an incoherent pumping field on behavior of OB and OM are then discussed.     

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.     

Optical bistability and multistability via amplitude and phase control in a Duplicated two-level system

We investigate the optical bistability(OB) in a duplicated two-level system contained in a ring cavity.The atoms are driven by two orthogonally polarized fields with a relative phase.The OB behavior of such a system can be controlled by the amplitude and the relative phase of the coupling field,and it is possible to switch between bistability and multistability by adjusting the relative phase.     

A Novel Phase Sensitive Quantum Well Nanostructure Scheme for Controlling Optical Bistability

A novel four-level lambda-type quantum well (QW) nanostructure is proposed based on phase sensitive optical bistability (OB) and multistability (OM) with a closed-loop configuration. The influence of controlling parameters of the system on OB and OM is investigated. In particular, it is found that the OB behavior is strongly sensitive to the relative phase of applied fields. It is also shown that under certain parametric conditions, the OB can be switched to OM or vice versa. The controllability of OB/OM in such a QW nanostructure may bring some new possibilities for technological applications in solid-state quantum information science and optoelectronics.     

Coherent control of optical bistability in tunnel-coupled double quantum wells

We analyze optical bistability (OB) behavior based on intersubband transitions in an asymmetric coupled-quantum well (CQW) driven coherently by a probe laser field and a control laser field by means of a unidirectional ring cavity. We demonstrate that OB can be controlled by tuning the energy splitting between two tunnel-coupled electronic levels, the intensity of the control field, and the frequency detuning of the probe and control fields. 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 CQW solid-state system, which is much more practical than that in atomic system because of its flexible design and the controllable interference strength.     

Intersubband optical nonlinearity and bistable behavior of semiconductor superlattices

The optical nonlinearity and bistability (OB) induced by intersubband transitions (ISBTs) in semiconductor superlattices are studied by means of the Kronig–Penney model and the density-matrix method. The OB state equation in a Fabry–Perot configuration is derived. It is shown that the ISBT-induced OB can be realized over a wide frequency range, and its bistable domain and hysteresis loop are much larger than those of a two-level system. Numerical illustration of the OB behavior in a GaAs/Al_xGa_1−xAs superlattice is also given.     

Optical bistabilities of higher harmonics: Inhomogeneous and transverse effects

The steady state behavior of optical bistable system in a ring cavity with transverse field variations and inhomogeneousely broadened two-level atoms is investigated outside the rotating wave approximation (RWA). Analytical and numerical investigation is presented for different cases of transverse field variations with Lorentzian or Gaussian line widths. When both (transverse and inhomogeneous) features taken into account, the first harmonic output field component outside the RWA exhibits a one-way switching down processes (butterfly OB) or reversed (clockwise) OB behavior, depending on the atomic linewidth shape.     

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.     

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.     

Controllable optical bistability in a three-mode optomechanical system with a membrane resonator

We study the optical bistability(OB) in a three-mode cavity optomechanical system, where an oscillating membrane of perfect reflection is inserted between two fixed mirrors of partial transmission. By investigating the behavior of steady state solutions, we find that the left and right cavities will exhibit the bistable behavior simultaneously in this optomechanical system by adjusting the left and right coupling fields. In addition, one can control the OB threshold and the width of the OB curve via adjusting the coupling strength, the detuning, and the decay rate. Moreover, we further illustrate the OB appearing in the cavity by the effective potential as a function of the position.     

非共振条件下∧型三能级原子系统光学双稳态和多稳态的控制

非共振条件下,我们理论研究了单向环形光腔中用一微波场驱动一个超精细低能态跃迁的∧型三能级原子系统光学双稳态和多稳态行为,结果表明原子介质双稳态的行为可以分别通过耦合场的强度和耦合场频率的失谐量控制,同时还发现微波场在实现多稳态过程中所起的重要作用.最后讨论了合作参数对光学多稳态阈值的影响.     

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.     

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.     

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 using quantum coherence in a microwave-driven four-level atomic system

The behavior of the optical bistability (OB) is investigated in an optical system which consists of a four-level atomic system with a microwave drive field and an optical cavity. It is found that the optical bistability can be accomplished by adjusting different physical parameters in both steady and transient process. Due to the existence of the microwave drive field, the optical bistability can be also obtained even under weak coherent coupling field condition. Since the intensity and phase of microwave drive field can be conveniently modulated, this optical system provides a new experimental method to test the optical bistability theory.