Numerical investigation of electromagnetically induced transparency in a quantum dot structure

A numerical investigation of pulse propagation in a quantum dot structure in the regime of electromagnetically induced transparency is reported. The quantum dot is described as a cone on top of a wetting layer and the calculated energy levels and dipole moments are used in an effective three-level model. Pulse propagation characteristics such as degree of slowdown, absorption, and pulse distortion are investigated with respect to their dependence on the dephasing rates and pulse width. It is seen how Rabi oscillations can seriously distort the pulse when the spectral width of the pulse becomes too large compared to the width of the EIT window. (C) 2007 Optical Society of America