Transverse effects associated with the propagation of coherent optical pulses in resonant media

Analytical and numerical methods are used to study the transverse reshaping that occurs when ultrashort optical pulses propagate through media resonant to the pulse-carrier frequency. The field is described by the scalar quasi-optic equation, and the material system by the full Bloch equations descr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inIEEE journal of quantum electronics Vol. 13; no. 7; pp. 507 - 520
Main Authors Mattar, F., Newstein, M.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published IEEE 01.07.1977
Subjects
Couplings
Equations
Frequency
Laser mode locking
Laser noise
Laser theory
Optical materials
Optical propagation
Optical pulses
Resonance
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Summary:Analytical and numerical methods are used to study the transverse reshaping that occurs when ultrashort optical pulses propagate through media resonant to the pulse-carrier frequency. The field is described by the scalar quasi-optic equation, and the material system by the full Bloch equations describing a distribution of homogeneously broadened two-level molecules. Transverse derivatives in the field equation provide the coupling leading to the development of radially dependent frequency variations and phase curvature. We have studied the origin and evolution of transverse energy flow and investigated the conditions under which this leads to significant coherent self-focusing. The physical mechanisms responsible for the onset and development of the focusing phenomenon are discussed and related to other types of self-confinement of optical pulses.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:0018-9197
1558-1713
DOI:10.1109/JQE.1977.1069385