Time-domain simulation of electromagnetic wave propagation in two-level dielectrics

A method for the time-domain simulation of electromagnetic wave propagation in two-level dielectric media is developed. The technique involves using transmission-line modelling (TLM) and L-transform methods to develop an algorithm to simulate the Maxwell-Bloch equations. The approach is accurate and free from numerical instabilities. The scheme was validated for the small-signal case by demonstration of the correspondence principle with the classical Lorentz oscillator. Results obtained for propagation in the two-level medium are in agreement with previous studies in the literature. In addition, results are shown demonstrating gain, self-induced transparency (SIT), Rabi flopping and laser oscillations. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.