Transient-Pulse Behavior and Self-Induced Transparency

The dynamics of self-induced transparency in an inhomogeneously broadened attenuator is investigated with special emphasis on delay times. One finds a strong dependence of delay times on the input value of the area parameter $\theta$ with pulses of ${\theta }_{\mathrm{in}}\approx \pi$ exhibiting much larger delay times than for ${\theta }_{\mathrm{in}}=2\mathrm{}\pi$. This investigation is extended to include the effects of an atomic phase memory time $T_2$ which is of the order of ten times the pulse width (i.e., in accord with current experimental circumstances). The variation of other parameters is considered. A method of measuring $\theta$ directly is presented.