Coherently driven resonant dense medium in a ring cavity

We propose an original method for analytically solving the propagation equa tion in a resonant dense medium, and we give explicit solutions, using a pa rametric formulation under the thin-sample approximation. We then use the k nowledge of the field transformation in a single-pass process to study the transmission of a resonant dense medium inserted into a ring cavity. Implic it analytical results are given, together with an explicit formula under th e thin-film approximation. The nonlinear phase shift that is associated wit h propagation through the medium is shown to have a great influence on the cavity transmission. Optical bistability is obtained in the most general ca se. We can easily adjust the switching intensities and the intensity shift by modifying the initial cavity detuning phi(0). For positive cavity detuni ngs, perfect optical limiting can be obtained: Induced absorptive and dispe rsive losses limit the output intensity. This device can lead to the stabil ization of a noisy incident continuous wave or to the realization of optica l limiters. (C) 1999 Optical Society of America [S0740-3224(99)01611-2].