Controlled absorption and all-optical diode action due to collisions of self-induced transparency solitons

TL;DR

This paper investigates how inelastic collisions of self-induced transparency solitons in a two-level medium can be used to create an all-optical diode, enabling unidirectional light transmission through controlled absorption.

Contribution

It introduces a method to achieve optical diode action using asymmetric soliton collisions and analyzes the effects of local-field correction and parameter ranges.

Findings

Pulse energy can be almost totally absorbed during asymmetric collision.

The medium can act as an all-optical diode transmitting in one direction only.

The study details the saturation process and influence of local-field correction.

Abstract

We study inelastic collisions of counter-propagating self-induced transparency solitons in a homogeneously broadened two-level medium. The energy of the pulse can be almost totally absorbed in the medium due to asymmetric collision with a properly chosen control pulse. The medium state thus prepared demonstrates the property of an all-optical diode which transmits pulses from one direction and blocks from another. The saturation process of a controlled absorption effect, local-field correction influence, and the parameter ranges for the diode action are studied as well.