Phase control of Kerr nonlinearity in V-type system with spontaneously generated coherence

Abstract

We study phase control of linear and nonlinear optical responses in a three-level atomic system in V-configuration exhibiting spontaneously generated coherence (SGC). Because of the SGC effect, the strength of Kerr nonlinearity strongly depends upon the relative phase between the probe and control fields as well as the absorptions. By controlling the relative phase appropriately, large Kerr nonlinearity can be achieved with canceled linear and nonlinear absorptions. Combining with the phase modulation, the strict decay condition of spontaneous decay rates is not needed.

Keywords:

• Kerr nonlinearity
• spontaneously generated coherence

Notes

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural ScienceFoundation of China [grant number 11104176], [grant number 11104174]; the NSF of Shaanxi Province under [grant number 2014JM2-1001].