We study all possible configurations (V, Lambda, Xi) of a three-level atom
coupled to a single-mode, frequency-tunable cavity field with a pre-selecte
d polarization in the bad cavity limit, and show that maximal quantum inter
ference (equivalently two parallel dipole transition moments) can be achiev
ed in such a system. We specifically examine the effects of the cavity-indu
ced interference in the context of the probe absorption spectrum in the V-s
ystem. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.