Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference
Avalanche phase conjugation
Ningju Hui, Qi-Ze Shu, Stephen Colby Rand
Abstract
Image retrieval based on degenerate four-wave mixing with a new nonlinear mechanism is demonstrated. An avalanche nonlinearity associated with induced excited-state absorption is exploited to furnish phase conjugation with threshold behavior and potential motion sensitivity. Population pulsations are reported at high intensities. Dynamic correction of distorted imagery by phase conjugation is one of many important applications of third-order processes in conventional nonlinear optics. Originally reported in the context of holography,' phase conjugation has found widespread use in optical memories, 2 laser power scaling, 3 signal processing,4 spectroscopy, ' and other applications. 6 The nonlinear mechanisms in earlier research involved resonant or nonresonant parts of the thirdorder susceptibility X(3) of independent atoms or of