Slow light in three-level cold atoms: a numerical analysis

We investigate theoretically the slow group velocity of a pulse probe laser propagating through a cold sample and interacting with atoms in a three-level $\Lambda$ configuration having losses towards external states. The EIT phenomenon produces very small group velocities for the probe pulse in presence of a strong coupling field even in presence of the population losses, as in an open three-level system. The group velocity and the transmission of the pulses are examined numerically as functions of several parameters, the adiabatic transfer, the loss rate, the modification of the atomic velocity produced within the cold sample. The conditions for a more efficient pulse transmission through the cold atomic sample are specified.