Controllable optical bistability and multistability in asymmetric quantum wells via Fano-type interference

We theoretically investigate the hybrid absorptive-dispersive optical bistability (OB) and optical multistability (OM) behaviors induced by Fano-type interference in a four-subband asymmetric semiconductor double quantum wells scheme driven by a degenerate probe field and a coherent coupling field. We show that the appearance or disappearance of OB can be controlled by modulating the strength of the Fano-type interference. We also present the threshold and hysteresis cycle of the OB can be controlled by adjusting the intensity of the coherent coupling field. Moreover, OB can be switched to OM by tuning the frequency detuning of the coherent coupling field or vice versa. This interesting scheme may provide guidance for technological applications in optoelectronics and solid-state quantum information science.