Role of different types of subsystems in a doubly driven Λ system in 87Rb

Abstract

The well-known Λ system using two ground-state hyperfine levels, Fg=1 and Fg=2 of 5S1/2, and one hyperfine level, Fe=2 of excited state of 5P3/2 of 87Rb, has been recently studied using two counterpropagating control lasers. The experiment shows conversion of electromagnetically induced transparency into electromagnetically induced absorption because the doubly driven Λ system forms various subsystems. We here present a detailed theoretical study of the different possible subsystems created by this configuration. We also explore the possibility of tuning the strength of individual subsystems by changing the polarization of the control lasers. © 2013 American Physical Society.