Abstract
We propose using population oscillation in a quantum-dot absorptive medium to demonstrate a potential slow-light device. The confinement potential of quantum dots leads to discrete electronic density of states, of which the first electron and hole quantized states form the two-level system for population oscillation. The optical pump creates a coherent absorption dip centered at the pump frequency, even though not all the quantum dots are in resonance with the pump due to inhomogeneous size distribution. Thus, the inhomogeneous broadening of quantum dots will not wash out the effect of population oscillation. Under a typical dot surface density of , a slowdown factor of several hundreds is possible for a normal incidence geometry.
- Received 18 August 2005
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.72.235330
©2005 American Physical Society