Highly sensitive controllability of optical bistability in three-level atomic systems

TL;DR

This paper theoretically explores optical bistability in a three-level atomic ensemble within a cavity, revealing highly controllable hysteresis phenomena that can be utilized for sensitive detection devices.

Contribution

It introduces a new controllable optical bistability system using three-level atoms with cavity and classical fields, enabling narrow hysteresis widths for advanced applications.

Findings

Observation of new hysteresis types by scanning pump frequency or control field intensity

High controllability of hysteresis width via external parameters

Potential for developing sensitive fluctuation detection devices

Abstract

We theoretically investigate the optical bistability phenomenon in an ensemble of $N$ non-interacting three-level atoms trapped inside an optical cavity. The atoms are in a $\Lambda$-level configuration, where one atomic transition is coupled by a cavity mode, while the other one is coupled by a classical field. In addition, we consider a pumping field driving the cavity mode. With this system, we are able to observe new kinds of hysteresis, while scanning either the frequency of the pumping field or the Rabi frequency (intensity) of the control field. We show that they can be highly controllable via external parameters of the system, achieving very narrow widths, thus being very useful for building new devices, such as small fluctuation detectors in either frequency or intensity of laser fields.