Raman interaction in the field of opposing light waves

Denis A. Ikonnikov, Vasily G. Arkhipkin, S. A. Myslivets

G V Venkin, Iu. A. Il'Inskii, A. S. Mkoyan

Igor' M Bel'dyugin, А. А. Степанов, Vladimir A. Shcheglov

A system of equations is derived to describe a transient opposed degenerate four-wave interaction (FWI) in fields of arbitrary intensity in gaseous media exhibiting resonant and thermal nonlinearity mechanisms. A system of closed equations describing an opposed degenerate FWI in fields of arbitrary intensity is obtained for the steady-state case. It is found that, unlike linearly absorbing media, the optimal reflection coefficients of a signal wave in nonlinearly absorbing media are only achieved at reference wave intensities comparable with the saturation intensity of the resonant medium. Numerical calculations illustrate a fall in the reflection coefficient as the amplitude of the signal wave is increased.

P. P. Shorygin

Vasily G. Arkhipkin, S. A. Myslivets

Abstract We study light-pulse propagation in a dynamically controllable periodic structure (grating) resulting from Raman interaction of a weak probe pulse with a standing-wave pump and a second control laser field in N-type four-level atomic media. The grating is induced due to periodic spatial modulation of the Raman gain in a standing pump field (Raman gain grating). We show that it is possible to control both the probe pulse amplitude and the group velocity of the pulse from subluminal to superluminal by varying the pump or control field. Such a grating is of interest for all-optical switches and transistors.

Gil Fanjoux, Thibaut Sylvestre

We theoretically demonstrate in a nonlinear optical fiber system with a narrowband Raman gain that pulse walk-off between the pump and the Raman Stokes waves can be fully compensated for by Raman slow light, leading to group-velocity matching between the interacting waves, greater useful interaction length, and thereby enhanced Raman amplification efficiency. Limitations due to Kerr effect are further discussed.