Quantum interference control of perfect photon absorption in a three-level atom-cavity system

Abstract

We propose a scheme for controlling coherent photon absorption by electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in a three-level atom-cavity system. Coherent perfect absorption (CPA) occurs when time-reversed symmetry of lasing process is obtained with the destructive interference at the cavity interfaces. The frequency range of CPA is generally dependent on the decay rates of the cavity mirrors. The smaller decay rate of the cavity mirror causes the wider frequency range of CPA, and the needed intensity of the probe fields is larger to satisfy CPA condition for a given frequency. Although Rabi frequency of the control laser has little effect on the frequency range of CPA, with EIT-type quantum interference, the CPA mode is tunable by the control laser. In addition, with the relative phase, the probe fields can be perfectly transmitted and/or reflected. Therefore, the system can be used as a controllable coherent perfect absorber or transmitter (reflector), and our work may have practical applications in optical logic devices.

Electromagnetically induced transparency via localized surface plasmon mode-assisted hybrid cavity QED

“…The characteristic super slow light velocity of the dark state makes many effects possible, such as slow light, [2,3] quantum memory [4,5] and quantum cooling. [6,7] In addition, through tuning the dark and bright states, more research is focused on the EIT effect which provides a highly efficient optical switch [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] based on a cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) system in a quantum information network, [16] especially in long-distance transport. [17] As a high-performance optical switch, switching contrast is one of the most important factors in optical networks.…”

Controllable optical bistability with perfect photon absorption

“…When ϕ = 0, two output fields are identical and CPA occurs with certain input intensity. It is calculated that the frequency range of CPA under these conditions [24] is ∆ p = −7.1Γ ∼ 7.1Γ, when ∆ p is close to the threshold value, linear CPA can be attained with weak input intensity [13,24]. When |∆ p | decreases from the threshold value, e.g., ∆ p = 6.5Γ and ∆ p = 6Γ, nonlinear CPA can be observed as shown by the dashed blue curves in Fig.…”

“…And this will induce an interference control on CPA condition. Therefore, the frequency of CPA is tunable, and the transfer between the coherent non-prefect absorption and the CPA at a certain frequency can be realized [24] in the three-level CPA system. And the relevant results have been presented in reference [24].…”

“…The frequency of CPA is variable only with some certain intensities of the probe fields. However, in a three-or four-level atom-cavity system [21,23], with the quantum coherence and interference between two transitions of the atoms, the frequency range of CPA can be controlled, and the linear and nonlinear CPA can be observed at the same frequency of a probe field [24]. In this Letter, we analyze one kind of unconventional OB with CPA in a three-level Λ-type atom-cavity system.…”