Absorptive optical bistability in two-state atoms

Absolute quantitative comparisons between experiment and theory are reported for the steady-state characteristics of optical bistability with two-state atoms in ring and in standing-wave resonators. The case treated here is the absorptive one, with both atoms and cavity resonant with the field. The experiment is designed to realize as closely as possible a standard theoretical model of two-state atoms interacting with a single mode of the electromagnetic field in a resonator and is described in detail. A detailed explanation is also given of the extensions to the standard theory that are needed to account for unavoidable experimental limitations such as transit broadening and the nonideal nature of the resonator. The good agreement observed between experiment and theory provides a foundation for quantitative investigation of nonlinear dynamics and quantum phenomena in this nonequilibrium optical system.