Figure 1

(a) Diagram of the three-level atomic system. (b) The experimental arrangement used for studying optical bistability and optical multistability in ${}^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ atomic vapor: M1-M3 are mirrors of optical ring cavity; PZT is the piezoelectric transducer; LD1 and LD2 are coupling and probe lasers, respectively; PB1-PB5, polarizing cubic beam splitters; BS, beam splitter; EOM, electro-optic modulator; $\lambda ∕2$, half-wave plates; FR, Faraday rotator; D1, detector; APD, avalanche photodiode detector; LS, locking signal from reference Fabry–Perot cavity; and SAS is a saturation atomic spectroscopy set up.Reuse & Permissions

Figure 2

Observed optical multistability in the input-output intensity characteristics of the system. The experimental parameters are ${\Delta }_P=0\mathrm{MHz}$, ${\Delta }_{\theta }=50\mathrm{MHz}$, ${\Delta }_C=137\mathrm{MHz}$, $T=65°\mathrm{C}$, and $P_C=14.0\mathrm{mW}$.Reuse & Permissions

Figure 3

The observed input-output intensity characteristics of the system. The parameters are ${\Delta }_P=0$, ${\Delta }_{\theta }=50\mathrm{MHz}$, $P_C=14.0\mathrm{mW}$, and $T=65°\mathrm{C}$, and (a) ${\Delta }_C=103\mathrm{MHz}$, (b) ${\Delta }_C=171\mathrm{MHz}$, (c) ${\Delta }_C=275\mathrm{MHz}$. As clearly seen, the hysteresis cycle changes shape and rotation direction as the coupling beam detuning increases.Reuse & Permissions

Figure 4

(a) The ratio of upper to lower switching threshold intensities as a function of ${\Delta }_C$ with ${\Delta }_P=0$, ${\Delta }_{\theta }=50\mathrm{MHz}$, and $P_C=14.0\mathrm{mW}$. Curves A (∎) and B (●) are for $T=65°\mathrm{C}$ and $T=70°\mathrm{C}$, respectively. (b) Difference (in arb. units) upper to lower switching threshold intensities as a function of ${\Delta }_C$ with all other parameters the same as in (a).Reuse & Permissions