Controllable optical bistability and multistability in a graphene structure under external magnetic field

We investigate the behavior of optical bistability (OB) and optical multistability (OM) based on quantum coherence in a Landau-quantized graphene structure. Such a tunable four-level system is driven coherently by two coherent fields and an incoherent pumping field inside the unidirectional ring cavity. The influence of system parameters on the threshold of the onset of OB and OM is studied. It is found that one can efficiently control the OB/OM threshold intensity and the hysteresis loop by using the system parameters. The results obtained may be used in real experiments for the development of new types of nanoelectronic devices for realizing an all-optical switching process. (paper)