Enhancement of phase-conjugate reflectivity with linear absorption in four-wave mixing systems

Abstract

We describe the steady-state enhancement of the phase-conjugate reflectivity that occurs with linear absorption near self-oscillation in four-wave mixing systems. Using a simplified general model, we show that this effect can arise in a variety of phase conjugators including those based on photorefractive and Kerr media. A new expression is introduced for the optimal reflectivity condition, which occurs if the transfer of energy from the strong forward pump to the weak probe is maximized at the entrance to the nonlinear medium.