Effects of spectral diffusion on the nonlinear optical properties in two- and three-state quantum systems in a four-wave mixing signal

Abstract

Effects of spectral diffusion on the third-order nonlinear susceptibility for two- and three-level quantum systems, immersed in a thermal reservoir, are evaluated with a four-wave mixing (FWM) signal through the density matrix formalism. For this, inhomogeneously broadened two- and three-level quantum systems are used. In these models, the distribution of natural frequencies follows a Lorentzian function. The absorptive and dispersive nonlinear optical responses are determined for the considered quantum models. The results presented in this work show potential applications in the development of optical switches and provide a potential method to measure spectral diffusion relaxation times in three-level quantum systems.