Optoelectronic control of atomic bistability with graphene

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how a two-level atom near a graphene sheet can exhibit and actively control optical bistability and hysteresis, with potential applications in quantum coherent control and atomic physics.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework for controlling atomic bistability via electrically-tunable graphene properties, integrating self-interaction and vacuum mode coupling.

Findings

Electro-optical bistability and hysteresis are achievable in atom-graphene systems.

Critical slow-down occurs in the atom's emission dynamics near steady-state.

The system enables active control of quantum optical properties.

Abstract

We explore the emergence and active control of optical bistability in a two-level atom near a graphene sheet. Our theory incorporates self-interaction of the optically-driven atom and its coupling to electromagnetic vacuum modes, both of which are sensitive to the electrically-tunable interband transition threshold in graphene. We show that electro-optical bistability and hysteresis can manifest in the intensity, spectrum, and quantum statistics of the light emitted by the atom, which undergoes critical slow-down to steady-state. The optically-driven atom-graphene interaction constitutes a platform for active control of driven atomic systems in quantum coherent control and atomic physics.