Two-wave-mixing dynamics and nonlinear hot-electron transport in transverse-geometry photorefractive quantum wells studied by moving gratings

The photorefractive response to an applied electric field is measured in a photorefractive quantum well, providing evidence in favor of the nonlinear transport in the device due to the hot electrons. The reduced mobility of the hot electrons limits the drift length, and thereby limits fringe overshoot. Thus the nonlinear transport prevents the slowing down of the grating writing rate for increasing fields which is common in bulk photorefractives. The photorefractive phase shift in transverse-field photorefractive quantum wells is measured as a function of the frequency offset between two laser writing beams that generate moving gratings. The two-wave mixing passes through a maximum at an optimum frequency which depends on the magnitude and the sign of the applied dc electric field. The phase shift associated with the moving grating adds or subtracts from the static phase shift induced by hot-electron transport in the semiconductor quantum wells, depending on the sign of the field and the sign of the dominant photocarriers. We observe a linear relationship between the roll-off frequency and the power of the writing beams. Received: 26 November 1998 / Revised version: 22 January 1999 / Published online: 12 April 1999     

Quasi-two-dimensional dark spatial solitons and generation of mixed phase dislocations

This paper presents experimental evidence that orthogonally crossed dark soliton stripes form quasi-two-dimensional spatial solitons with a soliton constant equal to that of singly charged optical vortices. Besides the pairs of oppositely charged optical vortex solitons, the snake instability of the dark formation at moderate saturation is found to lead to generation of steering mixed edge–screw phase dislocations with zero total topological charges. Received: 26 October 1998 / Revised version: 19 January 1999 / Published online: 12 May 1999     

Steering one-dimensional odd dark beams of finite length

This paper presents arguments for the existence and dynamics of one-dimensional odd dark beams of finite length in bulk Kerr nonlinear media. Their characteristic mixed edge–screw phase dislocations force them to steer in space. The modulational stability of these dark beams and one possible interaction scheme are discussed. Received: 26 October 1998 / Revised version: 19 January 1999 / Published online: 12 May 1999     

Exciton-polariton solitary waves

Effects of the exciton and polariton dispersions and the nonlinear exciton and photon interactions on the properties of polariton solitons in molecular crystals are investigated. Higher-order terms and phase-modulation (chirp) are taken into account. Bright- and dark-soliton solutions of the resulting modified nonlinear Schr?dinger (NLS) equation are presented. Nonlinearity- and dispersion-induced critical points on the polariton dispersion curve are obtained, separating regions with different solutions. Received 2 October 2001 / Received in final form 23 May 2002 Published online 2 October 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: Stoychev@issp.bas.bg     

Pattern recognition with a phase-shifting interferometric correlator. Discrimination-capability enhancement

 We study an experimental setup to perform pattern recognition by correlation methods. This setup implements the Pure Phase Correlation (PPC) method, let us say, it only takes into account the phase distributions of the Fourier transform of the scene and the target. An experimental study of a PPC method is presented. A phase measurement interferometric technique is used to extract the phase of the Fourier transform of the correlation function. Some aspects related to the intermodulation are examined. Experimental PPC with improved discrimination capability obtained with binary masks is also considered. The experiments are carried out with segmented scenes and with multiobject scenes. Received: 22 March 1996/Revised version: 17 July 1996     

Z-scan measurements of photorefractive nonlinearities for a SBN: Ce crystal

 In this paper, we derived the Z-scan formula for a photorefractive crystal sample under an external applied electric field. The far-field diffraction pattern of a Gaussian beam wavefront through a photorefractive crystal is calculated by considering spatial-phase perturbation induced by the space-charge field. The photorefractive drift nonlinearities and correspondingly, the electro-optic coefficients r ₃₃, r ₁₃, (r ₂₃) and the characteristic ratio n ³ _e r ₃₃/n ³ _o r ₁₃ for a cerium-doped Sr_0.61Ba_0.39Nb₂O₆ crystal are determined from the Z-scan experiments. Z-scan with enhanced sensitivity is also realized by measuring the normalized transmittance at the off-axis position in the far field. A deviation between the off-axis Z-scan experimental results and the theoretical prediction is discussed too. Received: 22 July 1996/Revised version: 7 October 1996     

Longitudinal parametric oscillation in photorefractive sillenites: comparison between theory and experiment

By using an alternative setup for photorefractive parametric oscillation in which wave mixing between the recording beams is avoided it has become possible to make more detailed comparisons with the space-charge wave theory. In the present paper we compare the experimental features of longitudinal parametric oscillation observed in a crystal of Bi₁₂SiO₂₀ with the theoretical predictions. Received: 24 November 1998 / Revised version: 13 January 1999 / Published online: 7 April 1999     

Directional coupling of optical signals by odd dark beams with mixed phase dislocations

Numerical simulations on the evolution of step-screw and edge-screw optical phase dislocations in bulk saturable self-defocusing nonlinear media are presented, with emphasis on their ability to induce steering waveguides for signal beams (pulses). Two schemes for directional coupling of such signals, both ensuring a reasonable coupling-to-cross-talk efficiency ratio, are investigated. The parameters useful for performance optimization of the couplers are discussed. Received: 19 July 2000 / Revised version: 5 February 2001 / Published online: 27 April 2001     

Gain optimization with respect to the thickness of a sillenite crystal

Simple analytical expressions for the dependence of the maximum gain on the polarization angle of the interacting light waves and the crystal thickness are obtained for two-wave mixing in a cubic optically active piezoelectric crystal. By applying the theory to Bi₁₂SiO₂₀ and Bi₁₂TiO₂₀ crystals, the optimum gain is found also with respect to the grating orientation. The r?le of the (inverse) piezoelectric effect is investigated. Received: 23 November 1998 / Revised version: 8 January 1999 / Published online: 7 April 1999     

Two regimes of two-beam coupling in cubic < ![IGNORE[3m crystals

We show that in crystals of symmetry 3m (lacking optical activity) two regimes are possible for two-wave mixing in the longitudinal geometry: one regime is similar to ordinary two-wave mixing where energy exchange is always in the same direction whereas the other one is oscillatory with energy transfer in both directions. Received: 27 November 1998 / Revised version: 18 February 1999 / Published online: 12 April 1999     

Continuous frequency up-conversion in a double-Λ scheme of Na2

 In a double-Λ level configuration of Na₂ molecules, involving rotational–vibrational levels of the X, A and B bands, continuous resonant frequency mixing ω₄=ω₁−ω₂+ω₃ is demonstrated. A DCM dye laser at 661 nm (λ₁) pumps a molecular Raman laser at 746 nm (λ₂) in a sodium heatpipe, which is used to generate the molecular vapour. In the same heatpipe, both fields are mixed with the radiation of an argon-ion laser at 514 nm (λ₃) to generate up-converted laser radiation at 473 nm (λ₄). For laser powers of 200 mW (λ₁), 700 mW (λ₂, internal power) and 140 mW (λ₃), an output power of 120 μW (λ₄) has been achieved. Dependences of the generated radiation on the pump fields (powers and detunings) and polarization features are presented; influences of coherent coupling and population transfer mechanisms are discussed. Received: 7 October 1996     

Steady-state vectorial self-diffraction on a non-local photorefractive grating in a crystal of symmetry \overline{4}3m at symmetrical transmitting geometry

The steady-state two-wave interaction in a cubic crystal of the symmetry group 3m with the non-local photorefractive response in the absence of an external electric field is considered for the case of arbitrary interaction orientation with respect to the crystallographic coordinate system and for arbitrary intensities and polarization states of incident light waves. The self-diffraction problem is described on the basis of four coupled-wave equations in terms of the complex scalar amplitudes of components of the light waves with orthogonal linear polarization. The derived conservation laws are valid for the non-linear dependency of the photorefractive-grating amplitude on the modulation coefficient of the interference light pattern. It follows from these laws that the two non-unidirectional energy fluxes can form the total energy exchange between the two interacting light waves. A set of independent conservation laws allows us to decouple the coupled-wave equations and to obtain their analytical solution, at least, in the form of quadrature formulae. For example, such a solution is derived for the case of linearly polarized incident light waves and for the linearized dependency of the photorefractive-grating amplitude on the modulation coefficient. The explicit analytical expressions for the scalar amplitudes are obtained for the transversal electro-optic configuration of interaction. The possibility of polarization-state transformation of light waves without energy exchange between them is shown. Received: 30 July 2002 / Published online: 11 December 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +7-3822/414321, E-mail: litvinov@ed.rk.tusur.ru     

Off-Bragg-angle light diffraction and structure of dynamic interband photorefractive gratings

Steady-state and time-resolved off-Bragg-angle diffraction experiments are used to determine the structure and the dynamics of photorefractive gratings induced by interband photoexcitation. In potassium niobate, we identify in such gratings basically a two-layer structure. Close to the surface, we find a space-charge electric field generated by a charge modulation stored directly in the bands. This grating component is typically 50 μm thick, the amplitude of the refractive index modulation is larger than 10^-4, and the response time is a few μs for resonant intensities of 100 mW cm^-2. This component is also robust under non-resonant illumination. Deeper in the crystal, a second holographic layer extends over a few hundreds of μm, its amplitude is smaller, and its slower response time is in the ms range. The mutual phase shift between the grating components is also determined. Received: 23 November 1998 / Revised version: 14 January 1999 / Published online: 12 April 1999     

Transient conical parametric scattering of two orthogonally polarized waves in BaTiO3

The strength of the transient parametric scattering in BaTiO₃ is shown to be strongly dependent on the initial conditions of the sample illumination. It is shown that the effect can be explained by a considerable increase of the seeding radiation intensity after pre-exposure of the sample to the ordinarily polarized pump beam. Received: 27 March 2000 / Published online: 16 June 2000     

Photorefractive properties of (1-10) and (111)-cut sillenite crystals when external electric field is applied along the direction of the optimum diffraction efficiency

We study the influence of the application of an external electric field on the grating formed in (1-10) and (111)-cut photorefractive sillenite crystals. Optimum conditions for application of the bias field are examined, taking into account the shift of the grating orientation for maximum diffraction efficiency along the crystal depth. The contribution of the piezoelectric effect is considered both in the electro-optic tensor and space charge field calculations. An analysis on the diffractive properties under these optimum conditions shows an increase of 30% in maximum diffraction efficiency in Bi₁₂GeO₂₀, and experimental verification for this is provided. Received: 5 November 2001 / Revised version: 18 April 2002 / Published online: 8 August 2002     

Effect of the lateral dimension on the grating formation and stability in the double-phase-conjugate mirror: application to interconnects between single-mode fibres

We develop a phenomenological model of the double-phase-conjugate mirror grating formation based on geometrical considerations. We show that the grating develops from one lateral side of the interaction zone towards the other side. This model is confirmed by the behaviour of different configurations of a 2-zone double-phase-conjugate mirror. Finally, we obtained stable operation in InP:Fe, this made it possible to implement a 1×8 switch between single-mode fibres at telecom wavelength with 12% global efficiency and 200 ms reconfiguration time. Received: 6 November 1998 / Revised version: 18 February 1999 / Published online: 7 April 1999     

Seeded and spontaneous light hexagons in LiNbO3:Fe

The first observation of optical hexagons in a medium with dominating photovoltaic charge transport – in LiNbO₃:Fe – is reported. The optimum conditions for hexagon observation are revealed and discussed. The dynamics of hexagon formation are also studied. Received: 9 February 2000 / Published online: 8 March 2000     

Intracavity frequency-doubled diode-pumped Nd : LaSc3(BO3)4 lasers

 An intracavity frequency-doubled 10%Nd : LaSc₃(BO₃)₄ (Nd : LSB) laser was investigated in different resonator configurations and in different operation modes under continuous wave (cw) and quasi-cw laser-diode pumping. With a Cr⁴⁺ : YAG passive modulator and a KTP crystal the second-harmonic output power at 531 nm amounted to 190 mW in Q-switched TEM₀₀ mode at 750 mW of pump power. In a sandwich resonator, when all the optical elements were in direct contact with each other, 0.8 W of green output power was obtained in cw mode under 2.7 W of pump power with a slope efficiency of 44%. In the same setup under fiber-coupled diode-laser array pumping (5.6 W of incident power), 1.2 W of green output power was achieved in cw mode and 1.4 W in quasi-cw mode. Received: 30 April 1996/Revised version: 1 July 1996     

Performance improvement of a holographic double-exposure interferometer by heating of the photorefractive recording crystal

A holographic double-exposure interferometer for quasi real-time analysis is realized, utilizing a photorefractive BTO:Cd crystal for hologram recording. Heating of the crystal reduces the time required to reach the steady-state working situation. Light-induced absorption losses are reduced by heating as well. Additionally, the diffraction efficiency is increased by this method. A sixfold increase in the light intensity of the reconstructed interferogram is achieved. Received: 2 December 1998 / Revised version: 28 January 1999 / Published online: 7 April 1999