Local-field effects in a dense collection of two-level atoms embedded in a dielectric medium: Intrinsic optical bistability enhancement and local cooperative effects

We investigate the effect of a linear host medium on the dynamics of a dense collection of resonant atoms. We find that near dipole-dipole interaction is enhanced by the presence of the host dielectric, resulting in a lower threshold density and a greater hysteresis area for intrinsic optical bistability. Cooperative decay terms appear that represent the interaction of near dipoles mediated by the absorptive component of the dielectric function of the host medium. These terms are part of the local response and correspond to local cooperative decay effects.