Influence of the sum frequency on optically pumped parametric amplifiers

Parametric traveling-wave interactions are calculated with the aid of a plane wave approximation, considering the 4 frequencies ω _s , ω _p , ω _I =ω _p ?ω _s and ω _Σ =ω _p +ω _s . Special attention is paid to the case where ω _p ?ω _s . Competition between parametric amplification and upconversion is studied as a function of phase matching and the results are illustrated by means of numerical examples. It is shown that parametric gain disappears if the linear combination of wave vectors, 2k _p-k_I-k_Σ, vanishes. In this situation upconversion with power gain up to about (ω _Σ /ω _s )² is possible. It is concluded that fork _p?k_s the sum frequency ω _Σ can significantly influence parametric forward amplification but does not affect backward wave amplification.