Control of absorption and Kerr nonlinearity based on quantum coherence without driving field

In a three-level atomic system, the influences of spontaneously generated coherence on the linear absorption and the Kerr nonlinearity are investigated. Our studies show that properties of linear absorption can be dramatically affected by the effect of spontaneously generated coherence. With increase of intensities of spontaneously generated coherence, absorption inhibition will occur, and finally the atomic medium becomes transparent. Furthermore, we find that the Kerr nonlinearity can be obviously enhanced under the action of effects of spontaneously generated coherence. Comparing with traditional scheme of the electromagnetically induced transparency, absorption and Kerr nonlinearity can be controlled without need another driving field in our scheme.