Thermal self-action of a light beam in a medium with random refractive index inhomogeneities

V. V. Vorob'ev, V. V. Shemetov


Abstract: A theoretical analysis is made of the simultaneous influence of refractive index inhomogeneities and thermal nonlinearity of a medium on the broadening of a light beam. It is shown that the presence of a defocusing dielectric waveguide increases the broadening because of the scattering by random inhomogeneities. This effect is particularly important in the focusing of a beam in an absorbing medium.

UDC: 621.378.325

PACS: 42.20.

Received: 23.07.1974
Revised: 02.11.1974

 English version: Soviet Journal of Quantum Electronics, 1975, 5:7, 767–769