Two-level description of gain and mixing susceptibilities in amplifying semiconductor materials

Optical-intensity-dependent gain and mixing susceptibilities of amplifying semiconductor materials have been calculated using the density-matrix approach. The model, which takes intraband relaxation and carrier-injection rate into account, allows for numerical computation of these susceptibilities, whatever the medium saturation is. As a simplification, an equivalent two-level system is derived which represents the gain and nearly degenerate four-wave mixing susceptibilities. Such an equivalence, which leads to the same field-induced polarization as the conventional rate equation model, also connects the two-level (or rate equation) parameters to the real characteristics of the semiconductor material.<>