https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-024-05102-5
Regular Article
Enhanced coherent optical effects in Ξ-shaped hybrid quantum-plasmonic systems
1
Baltic Institute of Advanced Technology, Pilies St. 16-8, LT-01403, Vilnius, Lithuania
2
School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Department of Physics, National Technical University of Athens, 157 80, Athens, Greece
3
Materials Science Department, School of Natural Sciences, University of Patras, 265 04, Patras, Greece
Received:
5
December
2023
Accepted:
17
March
2024
Published online:
5
April
2024
In this study, we investigate the coherent optical phenomena exhibited by a hybrid quantum-plasmonic system in Ξ configuration composed of four energy levels, featuring two closely spaced uppermost energy levels interacting with a weak probe field and a strong control field. The lower leg of Ξ system engages with the free-space vacuum, while the upper leg responds to interactions with surface plasmons. We reveal a significant transformation in the absorption and dispersion characteristics of this quantum system. This evolution is influenced by the interplay between quantum interference resulting from the presence of plasmonic nanostructures and the effects of incoherent pumping. In the absence of an incoherent pump field, we observe the emergence of multiple distinct absorption profiles, each containing optical transparency windows nestled amidst absorption spectral peaks. Introduction of an incoherent pump field leads to two well-defined symmetrical gain dips, each separated by a frequency corresponding to the dressed eigenstates of the system. This unique gain behavior persists whether or not population inversion occurs. We also show that these effects can be complemented with the existence of fast or slow light, expanding the range of optical phenomena that can be harnessed within this quantum system.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
