Coherent effects in the propagation of ultrashort light pulses in resonant media. Part I (review)

A review is given of the investigations of the coherent interaction of light pulses with resonantly absorbing two-level media. An analysis is made of the self-induced transparency discovered by McCall and Hahn and of its importance in quantum electronics. Bleached states associated with the phase modulation are considered in detail. A comparison is made with the theory of nonlinear waves of different physical origin. A review is given of some possible physical applications associated with the discriminatory nature of the transmission and delay of light in the self-induced transparency effect.