Eur. Phys. J. D (2016) 70: 256
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2016-70370-7

Regular Article

Optical bistability and multistability in four-level atoms with a diamond configuration

Department of Physics, University of Zanjan, PO Box 45371-38791, Zanjan, Iran

^a e-mail: samira.alipour@gmail.com

Received: 3 June 2016
Received in final form: 7 September 2016
Published online: 1 December 2016

Abstract

The phenomena of optical bistability and multistability are investigated for four-level atoms with a diamond configuration trapped in a unidirectional optical ring cavity, driven by a probe as well as three coupling fields. Moreover, the optical properties of the atoms are studied considering the spontaneously generated coherence and Rabi frequencies. The results indicate that the optical bistability and multistability of the corresponding atom-cavity system can be controlled by two spontaneously generated coherences in upper and lower decay channels and the Rabi frequency of the coupling fields.