Quantum metasurfaces with periodic arrays of $\Lambda$-emitters

Abstract

We study theoretically the optical response of a monolayer comprizing regularly spaced quantum emitters with a doublet in the ground state (the so-called $\Lambda$-emitters). The emitters' self-action through the retarded dipole-dipole interaction provides a positive feedback, interplay of which with the intrinsic nonlinearity of an isolated emitter, leads to an exotic optical dynamics of the system and prominent effects, such as multistability, self-oscillations, and quasi-chaotic behavior. %The bifurcation diagram approach is used to classify different scenarios of the system's behavior. In a certain spectral domain, the monolayer operates as a bistable mirror. The optical response of the monolayer manifests high sensitivity to the doublet splitting and relaxation within the doublet, suggesting the latter to be the key parameters to tailor the monolayer optical response. These properties make such a system very promising for nanophotonic applications. We discuss the relevance of the predicted nonlinear effects for nano-sized all-optical devices.