Phase Control of Collective Quantum Dynamics

The manipulation of the steady-state behavior of a collection of dipole-interacting three-level atoms in a V or Λ configuration is investigated as a function of the relative phase of two strong coherent driving fields. For larger samples, the phase is shown to be a convenient parameter to rapidly populate or depopulate completely a trapping state of the ensemble. As applications, we present the appropriately prepared atomic sample as an optical switching device and show its virtues in controlling the collective steady-state resonance fluorescence intensity.