On coherently driven group index of probe pulse at double-frequency regimes: An analytical formulation

The group index and its lineshape of a relatively weak double-resonance probe pulse (signal) propagates through an open doubly driven N-type five-level atomic system are analytically formulated. It is shown that the signal can be controlled by manipulating the driving contribution of the two coupling fields, so that both superluminal and subluminal propagation can take place simultaneously at two different (probe field induced transition) frequency regimes with reduced absorption/gain. Hence the proposed double-control scheme may be exploited to observe the double-switching effect (i.e. from superluminal to subluminal and vice versa) with negligible distortion. In our realization this double-controlling mechanism may be regarded as simultaneous tuning of two knobs, to regulate the group index of the signal at double-frequency regimes.