Optical bistability in a $\Lambda$-type atomic system including near dipole-dipole interaction

The advantage of optical bistability (OB) using three-level electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) atomic system over the two-level system is its controllability, as absorption, dispersion, and optical nonlinearity in one of the atomic transitions can be modified considerably by the field interacting with nearby atomic transitions. This is due to induced atomic coherences generated in such EIT system. The inclusion of near dipole-dipole (NDD) interaction among atoms further modifies absorption, dispersion, and optical nonlinearity of three-level EIT system and the OB can also be controlled by this interaction, producing OB to multistability.