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Local field contribution to the optical properties of multilevel coherent atomic media
Author(s) -
Shen J.Q.,
He S.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
annalen der physik
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1521-3889
pISSN - 0003-3804
DOI - 10.1002/andp.200510242
Subject(s) - harmonic oscillator , physics , thermal equilibrium , quantum mechanics , field (mathematics) , thermal , coupling (piping) , harmonic , classical mechanics , statistical physics , quantum electrodynamics , theoretical physics , mathematics , thermodynamics , materials science , pure mathematics , metallurgy
The local field contribution to some three‐ and four‐level coherent atomic vapors is considered, and a significant modification to optical properties due to dipole‐dipole interaction between neighboring atoms is discussed. It is found that the local field effect can reduce loss of a four‐level N‐type vapor medium at the resonant frequency in both the steady and transient cases. In order to achieve a left‐handed medium with a negative refractive index, a scenario to realize simultaneously negative permittivity and permeability inside a mixed coherent atomic vapor by using quantum coherence effect is suggested. One of the remarkable features of the present scheme is such that it can lead to a controllable manipulation of negative refractive index of an atomic vapor by using external coupling and signal fields. This may be a new scheme to fabricate the negatively refracting materials based on quantum optical approach.