Electromagnetically induced transparency inside the laser cavity: Switch between first-order and second-order phase transitions
Abstract
We investigate the effect of electromagnetically induced transparency inside a laser cavity. By changing the intensity of an external drive field, we can control the absorption to the laser field. A semiclassical analysis shows that the system undergoes a switch between first-order and second-order phase transitions. Around the tricritical point there could be a second-order phase transition followed by a first-order phase transition.
Description
Journals published by the American Physical Society can be found at http://publish.aps.org/Subject
OPTICALLY BISTABLE LASERSATURABLE ABSORBER
QUANTUM-THEORY
NONLINEAR
ABSORPTION
THERMAL EQUILIBRIUM
PULSED OPERATIONS
GAS-LASER
BISTABILITY
ANALOGY
THRESHOLD
Optics
Physics