Enhancing the index of refraction under convenient conditions

We investigate the possibility of increasing the achievable index of refraction and the slope of the dispersion while simultaneously minimizing absorption in a driven two-level system. The analysis is performed non-linearly in both the probing laser field and Doppler and collision broadening have been incorporated for the sake of a realistic treatment. We compare the achievable index of refraction without absorption quantitatively with known results of several favorable three- and four-level systems, find our system less sensitive to Doppler broadening in a collinear set-up of both fields and apply our considerations to the particular example of caesium.