The parametric Doppler effect in a medium with Lorentz dispersion

The frequency conversion under the parametric Doppler effect, which occurs when weak probe radiation reflects off from a refractive index inhomogeneity induced in a nonlinear medium by intense pumping, has been analyzed. Under these conditions, the frequency dispersion of the medium is assumed to correspond to the single Lorentz oscillator model. It is shown that the presence of resonance and a spectral range forbidden for propagation may lead to a complex Doppler effect, where the incident radiation is single-frequency but the reflected radiation consists of two or three monochromatic waves, one of which has a phaseconjugated wavefront.     

Radiation reflection from inhomogeneities moving in a medium with a plasma dispersion law

The dependence of the complex frequency of radiation reflected from an inhomogeneity moving in a medium on the frequency of the incident radiation is found for inhomogeneous wave regimes. Explicit expressions for the plasma dispersion law of the medium are presented. The complex Doppler effect, where one (real) frequency of the incident radiation corresponds to two complex frequencies of the reflected radiation, is demonstrated.     

Microwave radiation in the upper atmosphere of the earth during strong geomagnetic disturbances

The influence of N₂ and O₂ molecules on spontaneous microwave radiation spectrum was studied over the decimeter range. This radiation appears in the D and E upper earth atmosphere layers during strong magnetic storms. It was shown to be caused by radiation transitions between medium-perturbed orbitally degenerate Rydberg atom and molecule states A** that occur without changes in the principal quantum number, δn = 0. The available experimental data were used to calculate the dependences of orbitally degenerate state populations on the density of medium and electron flux and temperature. Effective radiation bands were constructed for transitions between highly excited quasi-molecule levels A**N₂ and A**O₂. The emission spectrum was shown to be inhomogeneous and contain three frequency regions in which a noticeable decrease in the intensity of radiation occurred. The physical reason for the formation of these regions was a shift of the emission spectra of quasi-molecules containing unexcited N₂ and O₂ molecules. The frequency profiles of radiation intensity within these frequency regions were calculated as depending on the storm level. Radiation profiles were shown to noticeably change as the storm level increased, they strongly increased close to the right region edge corresponding to high transition frequencies. Nonmonotonic behavior of this profile in the middle of the lower region was observed; this was related to emission spectrum inhomogeneity. A sharp increase in radiation intensity as the magnetic storm level increased occurred in the region of frequencies situated close to the right edge of the upper region (50–100 GHz), which was most interesting for biophysical studies of the action of microwave radiation on living organisms during strong geomagnetic disturbances.     

The parametric doppler effect upon oblique radiation incidence in quartz glass

Frequency and reflection angle of probe radiation from a refractive-index inhomogeneity induced by an intense pumping pulse in quartz glass and moving with a relativistic velocity are calculated. Conditions under which the normal component of the wave vector of the reflected wave is directed to the opposite or to the same direction as the same component for the incident wave are determined. Comparison with the case of radiation reflection from a relativistic mirror in vacuum is performed. Conditions of the appearance of the Vavilov-Cherenkov radiation from a relativistic refractive-index inhomogeneity induced in the medium by an intense laser pulse are discussed.     

Transformation of electromagnetic radiation by rapidly moving inhomogeneities of a transparent medium

A theory of reflection and transmission of electromagnetic radiation by inhomogeneities of the parameters of a static transparent medium moving at the velocity of light is developed. Expressions are obtained for the Doppler frequency shift of radiation; it turns out that, under the condition of pronounced frequency dispersion, the frequency of incident radiation corresponds to two frequencies of reflected radiation (complementary waves). It is found that, as the velocity of an inhomogeneity tends to the phase velocity of radiation in the medium, the reflection and transmission coefficients of radiation by the inhomogeneity indefinitely increase. It is shown that the electromagnetic radiation frequency may increase severalfold, with a transformation coefficient of about unity, due to the Doppler shift by the inhomogeneities of a nonlinear medium that are induced by pulses (solitons) of intense counterpropagating radiation.     

Forward light reflection from a moving inhomogeneity

The reflection of monochromatic and quasi-monochromatic pulsed light incident on a moving inhomogeneity in the optical characteristics of a medium having plasma-type dispersion has been analyzed. The velocity V of the inhomogeneity, induced in the medium by an intense laser pulse, has been changed by varying its carrier frequency. It has been shown that the usual back-reflection mode, when the reflected radiation pulse moves in the direction opposite the direction of incident radiation, is implemented only if the velocity V is less than the critical value V _min, which depends on the carrier frequency of the incident radiation pulse. It has been found that reflected radiation moves in the same direction as the incident radiation in a certain range of the velocity V _min < V < V _max (forward reflection). In this case, the reflected radiation pulse begins to lag behind a fast-moving inhomogeneity. When V _max < V < c, where c is the speed of light in vacuum, the group velocity of the incident radiation pulse is less than the speed of inhomogeneity, and there is no reflection. Analytical treatment is supported by numerical simulation.     

On the nature of “coherent artifact”

The coherent interaction of femtosecond laser pulses in the pump-probe regime has been experimentally studied in the time domain by monitoring light reflection from a tellurium single crystal. The optical response of the probed medium exhibits periodic variations at a frequency equal to that of the exciting laser radiation. Experimental dependences of the observed “coherent artifact” on the pump/probe intensity ratio, the number of accumulated pulses, and the mutual orientation of the polarization vectors of electromagnetic fields and the crystallographic axes are well described by the proposed phenomenological model.     

Complex resonance and complex-frequency spectroscopy

The response of a medium to radiation with a complex frequency corresponding to an exponential time decrease in the radiation amplitude has been analyzed. The effect of complex resonance has been demonstrated when the real and imaginary parts of the complex radiation frequency approach the real and imaginary parts of the complex frequency of damping natural oscillations of medium oscillators. In resonance itself, the absolute value of the refractive index is divergent and radiation is completely reflected from the medium boundary. It has been shown that scanning of not only the real part, but also the imaginary part of the probe radiation frequency expands the capabilities of spectroscopy and makes it possible to, e.g., distinguish resonances even with coinciding (real) frequencies and close (of the same order of magnitude) widths.     

Negative shift of a light beam reflected from the interface between optically transparent and resonant media

The lateral shift of a light beam reflected from the interface between an optically transparent dielectric and a medium for which the frequency dependences of the real and imaginary parts of the permittivity have a resonant form is investigated. At certain radiation frequencies and angles of incidence, a negative displacement of the reflected beam along the interface takes place.     

Generation of second optical harmonic and magnetooptical Kerr effect in ferromagnet-semiconductor heterostructures CaF2/MnAs/Si(111)

The second optical harmonic generation and magnetooptical Kerr effect are investigated for the light (λ=800 nm) reflected by ferromagnet-semiconductor heterostructures CaF₂/MnAs/Si(111). The observed change in the second-harmonic intensity is odd in magnetization. A phenomenological analysis of possible contributions to the second harmonic is carried out, and the sources of optically nonlinear signals are determined from the experimental azimuthal dependences of the light intensity at double frequency. The difference in the field dependences of the second harmonic and the magnetooptical Kerr effect is observed.     

The shape of emission lines from a spatially inhomogeneous gas containing macroscopic particles

A theoretical study of the shape of spectral lines emitted from a spatially inhomogeneous gas in the presence of a condensed phase has been carried out. The gas-phase atoms emit and absorb light while the macroscopic particles and the walls emit, absorb, and scatter light.The spatial inhomogeneity is described by distribution of the gas-phase temperature with a homogeneous core and a monotone change at the periphery, corresponding to a linear change of the blackbody radiation. The radiation transport equation is solved by using successive approximations. The dependence of the radiation intensity on the radiation characteristics and the inhomogeneity characteristics of the two-phase medium has been established. The calculation of the shape of spectral lines takes into account the fact that, inside the line, the optical density of the layer, the probability of photon survival, and radiation sources in the two-phase medium change simultaneously.     

Population inversion on transitions to the ground state of atoms upon nonresonance absorption of laser radiation

Lasing at the resonance transitions (D _1? and D _2?lines) of sodium was observed in the superradiance mode upon nonresonance optical excitation in the presence of a buffer gas. The dependences of the lasing intensity on the exciting radiation intensity and on the detuning of its frequency from the frequencies of resonance transitions were studied. It is found that, under specific conditions of the experiment (high pressure of a buffer gas and a rather high radiation intensity), in the case of a large positive detuning of the exciting radiation frequency from the resonance (“working”) transition frequency, the population inversion is produced at the “ working” transition, which results in lasing.     

Influence of gamma and gamma-neutron irradiation on the optical properties of LiNbO3 single crystals

The influence of radiation effects (gamma and mixed gamma-neutron irradiation) on the refractive indices and optical inhomogeneity of lithium niobate single crystals of congruent composition is investigated. The temperature dependences of the optical characteristics of the irradiated crystals exhibit a number of anomalies in the temperature range 20–400°C.     

Lateral shift and tunneling of optical beam reflected from gradient-induced inhomogeneity

Two effects have been analytically and numerically studied: Goos-Hänchen shift, which is acquired by an optical beam reflected from a gradient inhomogeneity, and tunneling of radiation through a narrow induced inhomogeneity. A possibility of increasing the lateral beam shift in comparison with total internal reflection from a homogeneous medium is revealed. The dependence of the tunneling coefficient on the inhomogeneity parameters is determined and the critical inhomogeneity width at which the tunneling effect arises is found.     

Influence of the laser-induced continuum structure on cross sections of the over threshold scattering of photons on atom

Process of photon scattering on atoms is considered at energy above the ionization threshold. Influence of the resonant structure in the continuum, induced by a laser field due to coupling with the level 4¹ S in helium, on the cross sections of elastic and inelastic scattering of a probe radiation on atom in the meta-stable state 2¹ S is theoretically investigated. In the rotating wave approximation approach dependences of resonant scattering cross sections on the probe and laser radiation characteristics are obtained. The frequency and polarization dependences of the scattering cross sections to the final states of atom 1¹ S, 2¹ S and 4¹ S are calculated.     

Parametric Doppler effect in the case of oblique incidence in a medium with a plasma dispersion law

The parametric Doppler effect that occurs upon reflection of a plane monochromatic wave obliquely incident on an inhomogeneity of the refractive index moving in a medium with a frequency dispersion (homogeneous wave regimes) is analyzed. For a plasma-type frequency dispersion, the dependences of the frequency and angle of reflection on the frequency of the incident wave and on the angle of incidence are found.     

Influence of an ambipolar field and target boundary blurring on transition radiation from fast electrons of laser plasma

It is shown that the blurring of the rear side of a thin laser target leads to a decrease in the intensity of higher harmonics in the spectrum of coherent transition radiation and that the scale of the boundary inhomogeneity can be estimated from the amplitude ratio of harmonics. Deceleration of the electron flow in an ambipolar electric field at the rear boundary of a target leads to a decrease in the intensity of lower harmonics in the spectrum of coherent transition radiation, and the strength of the ambipolar field can be estimated from the amplitude ratio of harmonics. A change in the permittivity of a dielectric laser target with frequency can lead to an increase in the intensity of some harmonics in the spectrum due to the Vavilov-Cherenkov mechanism.     

Modulation instability of wave packets in a Gires–Tournois interferometer

We study the specific features of the perturbation dynamics of a wave packet in a Gires–Tournois interferometer. We obtain a dispersion relationship that relates the perturbation parameters to the parameters of the structure and pump wave, the analytical expressions for the gain increment of a harmonic perturbation and other important characteristics that determine the dynamics of the modulation instability of the reflected wave. Based on numerical simulation, we plot the dependences of the dispersion and nonlinearity parameters and the gain increment on the spacing between the interferometer mirrors, the angle of incidence of the radiation onto the mirrors, and the radiation intensity.     

Equivalent Josephson junctions

The magnetic field dependences of critical current are numerically constructed for a long Josephson junction with a shunt-or resistor-type microscopic inhomogeneities and compared to the critical curve of a junction with exponentially varying width. The numerical results show that it is adequate to replace the distributed inhomogeneity of a long Josephson junction by an inhomogeneity localized at one of its ends, which has certain technological advantages. It is also shown that the critical curves of junctions with exponentially varying width and inhomogeneities localized at the ends are unaffected by the mixed fluxon-antifluxon distributions of the magnetic flow. This fact may explain the improvement of the spectra of microwave radiation noted in the literature.     

The doppler frequency shift caused by the inhomogeneities of a medium induced by pulses of intense laser radiation

Self-reflection of pulses of intense laser radiation from an inhomogeneity induced by them in a medium with fast optical nonlinearity is analyzed. The reflected radiation is characterized by a considerable Doppler shift and by a signal magnitude that is sufficient for experimental detection.