Abstract

The stationary problem of light interaction with a dense collection of two-level atoms embedded in a dielectric is treated semiclassically. The effect of dielectric absorption on the phenomenon of intrinsic optical bistability is discussed in terms of the complex local-field enhancement factor. The calculations accounting for propaga tion effects (nonlocal regime) show that even low dielectric absorption results in the elimination of response instabilities.

© 2010 Optical Society of America

Hysteresis behavior in light reflection from a dense resonant medium with intrinsic optical bistability

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