An efficient all-optical switch using a lambda atom in a cavity QED system

摘要

We propose an all-optical switch constructed from a two-mode opticalresonator containing a strongly coupled, three-state system. The couplingallows a weak, continuous wave laser drive to incoherently control thetransmission of a much stronger, continuous wave signal laser into (andthrough) the resonator. We demonstrate that in this simple setup the presenceof a control drive with one tenth the power of the signal drive can induce nearcomplete reflection of the signal, while its absence allows for near completetransmission. The switch can also be operated as a set-reset relay with twocontrol inputs that efficiently drive the switch into either the reflecting orthe transmitting state.