Switching between slow light and fast light by static magnetic field in a degenerate four-level atomic system at room temperature

The optical response of a magnetic-degenerated four-level atom system to the two left and right circular polarization components of the probe field is represented at room temperature. The absorption spectrum and group index for the two polarization components of the probe field are controlled according to the static magnetic field and the coupling field under electromagnetically induced transparency condition. By varying the strength of the static magnetic field, the optical response of the atomic medium can be changed from transparency to absorption or vice versa and hence the amplitude of group index also changes from positive extreme to negative extreme or vice versa. The same phenomenon also occurs when changing the coupling field intensity. In addition, temperature also significantly influence on the optical response of the atomic medium, which changes not only the amplitude but also the sign of the group index as the temperature increases. Our analytical results can be useful for experimental observation and related applications of light group index/velocity at room temperature.