Abstract

Although the theory of self-induced transparency (SIT) for nondegenerate two-level systems has been well established and subsequently confirmed by experiments, the theory of degenerate SIT is less satisfactory and often model dependent. This has limited the application of SIT phenomena in real laser systems. This paper re-examines existing degenerate SIT theory and shows that degenerate systems can be categorized into three typical classes, each of which has a different influence on the short-pulse propagation behavior. By pulse area-pulse energy analysis, most of these behaviors can be predicted.

© 1984 Optical Society of America