Rotation of the plane of polarization of a pulse undergoing self-induced transparency

Abstract

The rotation of the plane of polarization during the propagation of a pulse undergoing self-induced transparency is reinvestigated. The rotation per unit length, which is constant along the pulse, is shown to be exactly equal to the linear result obtained far out on the trailing edge of the hyperbolic-secant pulse. If the two circular components have their center frequencies shifted with respect to each other, it is pointed out that the rotation will not be stationary in the laboratory frame, but will propagate with a characteristic velocity. The existence of such propagation of a plane of polarization could be useful to test experimentally the existence of frequency pulling. © 1972 The American Physical Society.