Quantum metasurfaces with periodic arrays of $\Lambda$-emitters

TL;DR

This paper theoretically investigates the nonlinear optical behavior of a monolayer of periodically arranged $ ext{Lambda}$-emitters, revealing multistability, self-oscillations, and potential for nanophotonic applications.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical model of a monolayer of $ ext{Lambda}$-emitters showing complex nonlinear optical phenomena driven by dipole interactions.

Findings

Monolayer can act as a bistable mirror.

System exhibits multistability and self-oscillations.

Optical response is highly sensitive to doublet splitting.

Abstract

We study theoretically the optical response of a monolayer comprizing regularly spaced quantum emitters with a doublet in the ground state (the so-called $\Lambda$-emitters). The emitters' self-action through the retarded dipole-dipole interaction provides a positive feedback, interplay of which with the intrinsic nonlinearity of an isolated emitter, leads to an exotic optical dynamics of the system and prominent effects, such as multistability, self-oscillations, and quasi-chaotic behavior. %The bifurcation diagram approach is used to classify different scenarios of the system's behavior. In a certain spectral domain, the monolayer operates as a bistable mirror. The optical response of the monolayer manifests high sensitivity to the doublet splitting and relaxation within the doublet, suggesting the latter to be the key parameters to tailor the monolayer optical response. These properties make such a system very promising for nanophotonic applications. We discuss the relevance of the predicted nonlinear effects for nano-sized all-optical devices.