Two-photon conical emission

Hans Kleinpoppen

M. Rankin, Jon P. Davis, Christopher Giranda +2 more

Excitation of xenon near the two-photon resonance between the ground state and the 6p(1/2,0) state produces forward conical emission at a wavelength close to the 828-nm 6p(1/2,0)—6s(3/ 2,1) excited-state transition. We describe experimental features of this process as excited by 600-ps pulses of 250-nm radiation from a frequency-doubled dye laser with intensity up to 1.3 × 108 W/ cm2 in xenon at pressures of 1-20 Torr. The conical emission occurs most prominently when the driving field is a few gigahertz above the frequency at which spontaneous emission from the excited 6p state peaks. The cone angle increases with xenon pressure in the 1-10-Torr range. The dependence appears consistent with the predictions based on noncollinearly phase-matched four-wave mixing. In this interpretation, the fourth wave would be near resonance with the 146.9-nm first resonance transition of xenon and detuned to the low-frequency side. The conical emission co-exists (and may compete with) an axial stimulated process which may be either two-photon driven amplified spontaneous emission or stimulated hyper-Raman scattering. The different tuning characteristics for the two processes make the extent of their competition unclear.

Jörg Bialas, W. J. Firth, P. E. Toschek

John C. Miller

Both on‐axis and conical emissions have been observed following two‐photon pumping of the 5p states of krypton and the 6p’, 7p, 8p, and 4f states of xenon. In the former case, coherent emissions from the 5p states to the 5s are observed and in the latter case, many p → s, d → p, and f → d cascade emissions are observed. By analogy to the well‐studied alkali and alkaline earth examples, the emissions are discussed in terms of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE), stimulated hyper‐Raman scattering, and parametric four‐wave mixing. The physical processes responsible for the conical emission and for intensity anomalies in the xenon p → s emissions are not understood at present. Interference effects due to coherent cancellation between competing excitation pathways may be occurring.

Joel C. Miller

Both on-axis and conical emissions have been observed following two-photon pumping of the 5p states of krypton and the 6p', 7p, 8p, and 4f states of xenon. In the former case, coherent emissions from the 5p states to the 5s are observed, and in the latter case, many p..-->..s, d..-->..p, and f..-->..d cascade emissions are observed. By analogy to the well-studied alkali and alkaline earth examples, the emissions are discussed in terms of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE), stimulated hyper-Raman scattering, and parametric four-wave mixing. The physical processes responsible for the conical emission and for intensity anomalies in the xenon p..-->..s emissions are not understood at present. Interference effects due to coherent cancellation between competing excitation pathways may be occurring. 4 refs., 3 figs.

Jörg Bialas, W. J. Firth, P. E. Toschek