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We have theoretically studied the multi-window electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and the related dispersive signals in multi-level V-type systems which are formed by the co-propagating circularly polarized pump (σ −) and probe (σ +) laser fields in the Zeeman sublevels of hyperfine states of 87Rb-D2 line. The optical Bloch equations (OBEs) are derived and numerically solved under the steady-state condition to obtain the probe absorption and dispersion spectra. We present the study of a single-window EIT for the three-level, double-window EIT for the four-level and triple-window EIT for the five-level V-type systems under both Doppler-free and Doppler-broadened conditions. The dispersive signals corresponding to the multi EIT windows for each system are also observed separately. From the knowledge of the slopes of the probe dispersion signals, we have calculated group index (n g) of the medium considering three different V-type schemes. The effect of temperature on the EIT, dispersion and group index profiles is also studied in detail. It is found that the amplitudes of EIT and dispersion signals and also the positive and negative values of n g are decreased as the temperature of the medium increases. To understand the Doppler-broadening effect on the group index profiles, we have considered three different velocity groups of atoms in the calculation of group index profiles. Moreover, the effects of probe intensity variation on the Doppler-broadened EIT and dispersive signals are studied extensively, and the conversions of EIT to EIA and dispersive positive slope to negative slope are observed under strong probe regime. Also, we have investigated the variation of dispersive slope and group index with the variation of probe intensity and probe frequency, respectively, at the multi-frequency position of the multi-window EIT. Finally, the switching between subluminal (slow light) to superluminal (fast light) propagation of light with the variation of both probe intensity and probe frequency is discussed in detail.

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We report a theoretical investigation of the dispersion resulting from electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and the associated group refractive index profiles n g of a four-level inverted Y-type system formed by the interaction of three optical fields (probe, pump and control) with 87Rb atoms. The density matrix equations are derived from the semi-classical Liouville’s equation and solved both numerically and analytically to study the coherent nonlinear optical properties of the medium. We first present the EIT, dispersion and corresponding group index profiles n g under the switch-on/off and on/off-resonance conditions of the pump and control lasers. In presence of both pump and control lasers, an enhancement of the EIT window, a sharp EIT spike and related steeper dispersion slopes are obtained at the line centre of the probe frequency detuning. The group index profiles with the variation of the strengths of individual applied optical fields are studied. The effect of the ground state decoherence rates on the group index profile is examined in detail. It is found that the manipulation of n g values and the corresponding group velocities ν g of the probe light can be easily controlled from subluminal to superluminal values or vice versa by changing the strengths of the applied fields and the ground state decoherence rates. Besides, the EIT-based ‘optical switching’ phenomenon in the medium is explained by studying the variation of the group index with the pump and control Rabi frequencies.

A comparative theoretical study of two-photon electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), absorption (EIA) and three-photon electromagnetically induced transparency (TPEIT), absorption (TPEIA) and their associated dispersion and group index profiles are presented by using a four-level ladder-type system of both stationary and moving 85Rb Rydberg atoms. We have observed EIT, EIA and their respective positive and negative dispersive slopes under two-photon conditions, while the TPEIT, TPEIA signals and the respective multiple positive and negative dispersive slopes at around zero detuning of the probe field are observed under the three-photon conditions. It is found that the control and manipulation of the coherent optical responses under three-photon conditions are much richer than the two-photon conditions. The group index profiles related to the dispersion of the medium have been studied under both two- and three-photon conditions to compare and explain the optical switching between the subluminal and superluminal modes of propagation for both stationary and moving atomic medium. The influence of the ‘pump’ Rabi frequency on the group index has also been investigated to illustrate the action of optical switching. Finally, the existence of the four-wave mixing (FWM) process due to the action of three optical fields in the EIT medium is also discussed.