Abstract

Recent experimental observation of large probe beam gain at moderate laser power in a Kerrlike nonlinear medium demonstrated the possibility of constructing a self-pump ring oscillator and phase conjugator. We present a detailed theory, based on experimental parameters, of the working principles of such multiwave mixing mediated devices. The theory accounts for the side diffractions, which are responsible for probe beam gain in a Kerrlike medium, and other relevant parameters such as noise, loss, phase modulation, intensity dependences, etc.

© 1989 Optical Society of America