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Nonlinear Optics

Enhanced Nonlinear Optics Using an Atomic Local Oscillator

Maneesh Jain, H. Xia, Andrew J. Merriam, G. Y. Yin, Stephen E. Harris

Published Jan 1, 1996• 0 citations

Abstract

Nonlinear optical mixing of existing laser frequencies to access portions of the spectrum where lasing action is not easily obtainable is common practice today. Although nonlinear solid-state media are available [1] for frequency conversion from just under 200 nm in the ultraviolet to about a few microns in the infrared, the generation of widely-tunable laser radiation in the mid-to-far infrared and VUV regions typically requires four-frequency mixing in atomic vapors. In the past, frequency conversion in atomic vapors suffered from poor conversion efficiencies due to the small magnitude of the third-order nonlinear susceptibility and the difficulty in phasematching. We demonstrate a method [2] for performing four-frequency mixing which overcomes both of these shortcomings, allowing efficient frequency conversion with moderate pump intensities.

DOI: 10.1364/nlo.1996.nfa.4

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Nonlinear optical mixing of existing laser frequencies to access portions of the spectrum where lasing action is not easily obtainable is common practice today. Although nonlinear solid-state media are available [1] for frequency conversion from just under 200 nm in the ultraviolet to about a few microns in the infrared, the generation of widely-tunable laser radiation in the mid-to-far infrared and VUV regions typically requires four-frequency mixing in atomic vapors. In the past, frequency conversion in atomic vapors suffered from poor conversion efficiencies due to the small magnitude of the third-order nonlinear susceptibility and the difficulty in phasematching. We demonstrate a method [2] for performing four-frequency mixing which overcomes both of these shortcomings, allowing efficient frequency conversion with moderate pump intensities.

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