This article is cited in 2 papers

Nonlinear optical effects and devices

Influence of thermal change in the phase of an optical beam on its stimulated scattering and wavefront reversal

O. L. Antipov


Abstract: The approximation of phase changes is used to consider the influence of transient thermal selfinteraction of an optical beam on its stimulated Rayleigh scattering. It is shown that if a selfinduced change in the pump frequency in the length of a nonlinear medium exceeds the width of a spontaneous scattering line, the rise of the intensity of the backscattered light is limited, the characteristic time for the establishment of steady-state stimulated backscattering decreases, and the frequency spectrum of the scattered wave becomes wider. In the case of multimode beams a thermally induced change in the phases may reduce discrimination of the stimulated scattering increment of waves uncorrelated with the pump and, consequently, may suppress wavefront reversal as a result of stimulated scattering. Estimates obtained indicate the possibility that such effects can influence stimulated Brillouin and thermal backscattering of laser pulses of duration in excess of 10^–7 sec in media with absorption coefficients of the order of 10^–2cm^–1.

UDC: 621.373.826

PACS: 42.65.Hw, 42.65.Es, 42.60.Jf

Received: 26.02.1986

 English version: Soviet Journal of Quantum Electronics, 1987, 17:4, 458–462

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