Optical properties of 87 Rb atomic vapor near the 1D photonic crystal bandgap and all-optical switching of transmitted light

Abstract We investigate the steady-state and dynamic behavior of the optical properties of the laser pulse in a GaAs/AlAs 1D photonic crystal (1DPC) with an atomic vapor defect layer. We chose the atomic vapor of the 87 Rb as a defect layer by driving the probe field on the D 2 transition between 5 2 P 3/2 - 5 2 S 1/2 levels through the 1DPC. The effect of the photonic bandgap (PBG) on the absorption and dispersion properties of the probe field is discussed. Moreover, the transmission and reflection coefficient of the 1DPC is controlled by applying the various value of the intensity of the coupling field. By comparing these results in the vacuum and near the PBG, we find that the absorption/dispersion and transmission/reflection properties are strongly affected by the PBG. We find that all-optical properties of atomic vapor in the surrounding of 1DPC are improved due to PBG. Furthermore, the effect of the intensity of the coupling field on the all-optical switching is studded. The proposed model may provide some new possibilities for technological applications as an all-optical device based on the photonic crystal in quantum information science, quantum computing, signal processing, and quantum communications.