III The Mutual Dependence Between Coherence Properties Of Light And Nonlinear Optical Processes

Abstract

This chapter discusses the mutual dependence between coherence properties of light and nonlinear optical processes. The chapter is concerned with the mutual relationship between nonlinear optical effects and the coherence properties of light, a subject that seems to be gaining increasing importance, because of the recent development both of new high-power sources and sensitive and fast detection devices. If a medium is irradiated by light, changes of the state of the medium, as well as of the statistical properties of light, will be caused by nonlinear interactions. The chapter presents a concise compilation of relations concerning the coherence of light, by means of which the physical meaning of the classical and quantum-theoretical description is discussed in connection with experimental techniques and measuring procedures. The chapter explains the treatment of several important multiphoton processes such as multiphoton absorption, two-photon emission, optical parametric processes, and stimulated Raman scattering. In connection with the discussion of these effects, representative theoretical and experimental methods are outlined and employed in the chapter.