Stochastic resonance (SR) is experimentally demonstrated in an atomic optical bistable system consisting of three-level atoms in $\Lambda$-type configuration confined in an optical ring cavity. The optical bistable system with enhanced Kerr nonlinearity due to atomic coherence is driven by a periodic signal and a Gaussian white noise source with variable amplitude, and displays an improved output signal-to-noise ratio, a characteristic signature of SR. The measured results match qualitatively with the theoretical predictions of the generic model for the SR phenomenon.

• Received 14 December 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.74.013817