Bistable Behaviour of N Two-Level Atoms Interacting with the Field inside a High-Q Cavity Containing a Nonlinear Kerr-Like Medium

Taking the intensity-dependent coupling between atoms and cavity mode into account, we investigate a system consisting of N homogeneously broadened two-level atoms interacting with the field inside a single-mode Fabry--Perot cavity containing a nonlinear Kerr-like medium. We derive the steady-state bistable behaviour of the system, and further analyse in details the influence of several critical parameters on the bistable behaviour.