A description is given of a method for calibrating photodetectors based on some characteristics of the statistics of the field of spontaneous parametric light scattering. A phenomenological theory of parametric scattering is used to demonstrate that photons are only emitted in pairs. It is shown that, in principle, a priori information on the two-photon character and directionality of parametrically scattered light can be used for absolute calibration of photodetectors operated both in the analog linear regime and in the discrete photoelectron pulse counting regime.A description is given of a method for calibrating photodetectors based on some characteristics of the statistics of the field of spontaneous parametric light scattering. A phenomenological theory of parametric scattering is used to demonstrate that photons are only emitted in pairs. It is shown that, in principle, a priori information on the two-photon character and directionality of parametrically scattered light can be used for absolute calibration of photodetectors operated both in the analog linear regime and in the discrete photoelectron pulse counting regime.

Soviet Journal of Quantum ElectronicsSep 30, 1980235 citations

Quantum Theory of Spontaneous Parametric Scattering of Intense Light

T. G. Giallorenzi, Carson L. Tang

A quantum theory is developed for the spontaneous optical parametric process in nonlinear, anisotropic, and dispersive media; the process is treated directly as a scattering problem rather than a problem involving equivalent coupled oscillators. Following the general procedure in quantum field theory, a general expression is obtained for the differential extinction coefficient, which contains all the information on the intensity of the spontaneous emission in the parametric scattering process. The tuning characteristics, beam divergence, and spectral properties of the spontaneous emission for colinear and noncolinear interactions are described in detail and illustrated with numerical examples on such standard nonlinear optical crystals as LiNb ${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ , N ${\mathrm{H}}_{4}$ ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ P ${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ , and K ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ P ${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ under various pumping conditions. Explicit formulas for the intensity of the spontaneous emission are also obtained. The spontaneous intensity calculated using the formulas given is shown to be in complete agreement with known experimental data on N ${\mathrm{H}}_{4}$ ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ P ${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ pumped at 3472 \AA{}.A quantum theory is developed for the spontaneous optical parametric process in nonlinear, anisotropic, and dispersive media; the process is treated directly as a scattering problem rather than a problem involving equivalent coupled oscillators. Following the general procedure in quantum field theory, a general expression is obtained for the differential extinction coefficient, which contains all the information on the intensity of the spontaneous emission in the parametric scattering process. The tuning characteristics, beam divergence, and spectral properties of the spontaneous emission for colinear and noncolinear interactions are described in detail and illustrated with numerical examples on such standard nonlinear optical crystals as LiNb${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, N${\mathrm{H}}_{4}$${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$P${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$, and K${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$P${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ under various pumping conditions. Explicit formulas for the intensity of the spontaneous emission are also obtained. The spontaneous intensity calculated using the formulas given is shown to be in complete agreement with known experimental data on N${\mathrm{H}}_{4}$${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$P${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ pumped at 3472 \AA{}.

Physical ReviewFeb 10, 1968112 citations

Spontaneous and stimulated scattering of light

Series in optics and optoelectronicsSep 1, 20030 citations

{\mathrm{O}}_{3}

, N

{\mathrm{H}}_{4}

{\mathrm{H}}_{2}

{\mathrm{O}}_{4}

, and K

{\mathrm{H}}_{2}

{\mathrm{O}}_{4}

under various pumping conditions. Explicit formulas for the intensity of the spontaneous emission are also obtained. The spontaneous intensity calculated using the formulas given is shown to be in complete agreement with known experimental data on N

{\mathrm{H}}_{4}

{\mathrm{H}}_{2}

{\mathrm{O}}_{4}

pumped at 3472 \AA{}.