Manipulation of a weak signal pulse by optical soliton via double electromagnetically induced transparency

Abstract

Abstract We propose a scheme to realize the manipulation of a weak signal pulse by ultraslow optical soliton in a coherent inverted-Y-type atomic system via double electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). Based on Maxwell-Bloch equations, we derive nonlinear equations governing the spatial-temporal evolution of the probe and signal pulse envelopes. We show the giant enhancement of optical Kerr nonlinearity can be obtained under the condition of the double EIT, which results in the generation of a (2+1)-dimension optical soliton and can realize the manipulation of a weak signal pulse. Applying a far-detuned laser field to the system, we find that a weak signal pulse can be trapped by a (3+1)-dimension light bullet. In particular, the trajectories of the light bullet and trapped signal pulse can be manipulated and controlled by introducing a Stern–Gerlach gradient magnetic field. The results predicted here may not only open a route for the study of weak-light nonlinear optics but also have potential applications in the precision measurements and optical information processing and transmission.