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Slow light amplification in a three-level cascade-type system via spontaneously generated coherence and incoherent pumping

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Abstract

By analytically solving the density matrix equations of a three-level atomic system interacting with two coherent laser fields and an incoherent pumping field under steady-state condition, we have derived the expressions for the absorption and dispersion (and thus group index and group velocity), and population difference as a function of the intensity, frequency, polarization and phase parameters of the laser fields. We have demonstrated that the appearance of spontaneously generated coherence—SGC (characterized by the polarization and non-orthogonality of the electric dipole moments) fundamentally changes the atomic optical responses. By adjusting the strength of SGC and/or incoherent pumping rate, the medium can switch between absorption and amplification regimes, between normal dispersion and anomalous dispersion, and thus light propagation in the medium can switch from slow light to fast light and vice versa. In particular, we have also found that in amplification regime the light is slowed down considerably. Amplifying and slowing light also become more efficient as incoherent pumping rate increases. In addition, the presence of the SGC and incoherent pumping field leads to a sensitive dependence of the atomic responses on the relative phase of the laser fields. Namely, the absorption, dispersion, and group index vary periodically with relative phase.

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The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Funding

This work is supported by Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training under Grant No. B2022-TDV-05, and Nong Lam University Ho Chi Minh City under Grant code CS-CB21-KH-02.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Le Nguyen Mai Anh

  2. Vinh University, 182 Le Duan Street, Vinh, Vietnam

    Nguyen Huy Bang, Nguyen Van Phu & Le Van Doai

  3. Ho Chi Minh City University of Food Industry, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Hoang Minh Dong & Nguyen Thi Thu Hien

Authors
  1. Le Nguyen Mai Anh
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  2. Nguyen Huy Bang
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  3. Nguyen Van Phu
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  4. Hoang Minh Dong
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  5. Nguyen Thi Thu Hien
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  6. Le Van Doai
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Contributions

LNMA, NHB, NVP, HMD, NTTH and LVD conceived the presented idea, developed the theory and performed the analytic calculations. All authors co-wrote the paper, discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Nguyen Van Phu or Le Van Doai.

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The authors have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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Anh, L.N.M., Bang, N.H., Van Phu, N. et al. Slow light amplification in a three-level cascade-type system via spontaneously generated coherence and incoherent pumping. Opt Quant Electron 55, 246 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-022-04521-x

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