Optical instabilities in three-level lambda and V system inside double-cavity

TL;DR

This paper investigates optical instabilities in three-level lambda and V atomic systems within double-cavity setups, highlighting conditions where incoherent pathways lead to bistability and instability at low light levels.

Contribution

It identifies the necessary conditions for optical instabilities in three-level atomic systems with two cavity modes, emphasizing the role of incoherent pathways and leaky states.

Findings

Optical instabilities occur at low input light levels due to cooperative pathways.

Incoherent processes can destabilize the atomic ensemble's cooperative behavior.

Leaky atomic states with substantial populations are critical for instabilities.

Abstract

We obtain optical instabilities in all-optical bistable systems arising from competing cooperative pathways at low input light levels. In particular for three-level atomic systems in the lambda and V configuration interacting with two independent cavity modes, we identify the necessary conditions related to the incoherent pathways required to obtain instabilities. The instabilities arise when atomic states involved in the bistable transition are leaky and have substantial population, where the incoherent processes adversely affect the cooperative behavior of the atomic ensemble.