Nonlinear interference effects and all-optical switching in optically dense inhomogeneously broadened media

Specific features of nonlinear interference processes at quantum transitions in near- and fully resonant Doppler-broadened optically dense media are studied. The possibility of all-optical switching of the medium to opaque or, alternatively, to absolutely transparent, or even to strongly amplifying states is explored, which is controlled by a small variation of two driving or probe radiations and does not require any change of the level populations. Optimum conditions for inversionless amplification of short-wavelength radiation above the oscillation threshold at the expense of the longer-wavelength control fields are investigated. The feasibility of overcoming the fundamental limitation on a velocity-interval of resonantly coupled molecules imposed by the Doppler effect is shown, based on quantum coherence.