Criteria for multiphoton optical bistability in a high-Q ring cavity

The static criterion for multiphoton optical bistability in a high-Q ring cavity is analytically derived for a homogeneously broadened atomic system when the input coherent field is in perfect resonance with the atoms and with the cavity. It is shown how the static threshold condition, the bistable regime, the critical point, and the threshold input field amplitude for the optical bistability, change with the variables of the photon number involved in the transition and the system parameter C_n. Criteria for the stability of the stationary solutions are derived and discussed. The results show that in the input-output curves, all parts of the branches with negative slope are unstable, and some parts of the branches with positive slope may be unstable. Considering the stability of the stationary solutions, complete criteria for optical bistability are discussed