Journal of Modern Optics
Parametric image amplification at low-frequency pumping
A. S. Chirkin, E. V. Makeev
Abstract
We develop for the first time the quantum theory of parametric image amplification at low-frequency pumping. Such a process can be implemented by coupled consecutive three-frequency optical interactions. As a result, besides the amplified optical image on the signal frequency, there are two other images with frequencies which are below the pumping frequency. The theory developed takes into account the diffraction effect and group mismatch of interacting waves. For the interacting waves the expressions for mean photon numbers and signal-to-noise ratios are deduced and the dependence of these parameters on the interaction length and coordinate at the image plane are studied.