Stimulated emission at the difference-frequency generation

 We consider the stimulated emission process that occurs at the difference-frequency generation of a bichromatic field interacting with a three-level atom, where one of the laser fields is strong while the other is weak. It is shown that at the difference-frequency generation an induced peak occurs which can exhibit both gain and attenuation. Conditions under which this takes place are established and discussed herein. Received: 29 April 1996 / Accepted: 17 July 1996