Frequency-Sensitive Optical Response via Tunable Band Structure in an EIT-Based Layered Medium

Abstract

The optical response of an atomic vapor can be controlled by using tunable quantum interference induced by external control field. A periodic layered medium whose unit cells consist of dielectric (e.g., GaAs) and EIT (electromagnetically induced transparency) atomic vapor is suggested. It is demonstrated that such an EIT-based periodic layered medium shows more flexible optical response (sensitive to frequency) than a conventional photonic crystal does. The controllable band structure that depends on the external control field can be applicable to designs of new devices such as photonic switches and photonic logic gates, where one laser field can be controlled by the other one, and would have potential applications in the field of integrated optical circuits and other related areas, e.g., the all-optical technique.