Sensitivity of electromagnetically induced transparency to light-mediated interactions

Here we present a microscopic model that describes the Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT) phenomenon in multiple scattering regime. We consider an ensemble of cold three-level atoms, $\Lambda$ configuration, probe and control field to vacuum modes electromagnetic field. By first considering scalar description scattering, show light-mediated long-range interactions emerge between dipoles narrow EIT transparency window for increasing densities sample sizes. For vectorial description, demonstrate near-field interacting terms can critically affect atomic population transfer Stimulated Raman Adiabatic Passage (STIRAP). This result points out standard STIRAP-based quantum memories ensembles would not reach high enough efficiencies information processing applications even dilute regimes.