Local field effect as a function of pulse duration

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how pulse duration influences local field effects in optical switching, emphasizing the importance of the ratio between peak Rabi frequency and Lorentz frequency, and discusses relaxation and pulse shape impacts.

Contribution

It provides a semiclassical analysis of local field effects as a function of pulse duration, highlighting the critical ratio of Rabi to Lorentz frequency for significant effects.

Findings

Longer pulses are necessary for notable local field effects.

The ratio of peak Rabi frequency to Lorentz frequency governs local field influence.

Relaxation and pulse shape affect the observation of local field effects.

Abstract

In this note we give semiclassical consideration of the role of pulse duration in observation of local field effects in the regime of optical switching. We show that the main parameter governing local field influence is the ratio of peak Rabi frequency corresponding to medium inversion and Lorentz frequency of the medium. To obtain significant local field effect, this parameter should be near unity that is valid only for long enough pulses. We also discuss the role of relaxation and pulse shape in this processes.