We present a theoretical treatment of electromagnetically induced transparency and light storage using standing-wave coupling fields in a medium comprised of stationary atoms, such as an ultracold atomic gas or a solid state medium. We show that it is possible to create stationary pulses of light which have a qualitatively different behavior than in the case of a thermal gas medium, offering greater potential for quantum-information-processing applications.

• Received 12 October 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.75.065804