Theory of an opposed four-wave interaction in arbitrary-intensity fields applied to media with resonant and thermal nonlinearity mechanisms

Abstract

A system of equations is derived to describe a transient opposed degenerate four-wave interaction (FWI) in fields of arbitrary intensity in gaseous media exhibiting resonant and thermal nonlinearity mechanisms. A system of closed equations describing an opposed degenerate FWI in fields of arbitrary intensity is obtained for the steady-state case. It is found that, unlike linearly absorbing media, the optimal reflection coefficients of a signal wave in nonlinearly absorbing media are only achieved at reference wave intensities comparable with the saturation intensity of the resonant medium. Numerical calculations illustrate a fall in the reflection coefficient as the amplitude of the signal wave is increased.