Self-induced polarization rotation of a laser beam in resonance media

The single-photon effect of the self-induced optical activity (SIOA) has been investigated experimentally for the first time in the vicinity of potassiumD_1,2 lines. Experimental data on self-induced gyrotrophy and dichroism are presented and compared with the theoretical model proposed earlier. The limiting action of SIOA on the efficiency of resonance parametric generators and polarization spectroscopy is outlined.