Contradirectional two-wave mixing with partially coherent waves in photorefractive crystals

Abstract

Summary form only given. In this paper, we present the results of theoretical analysis and experimental investigation of contradirectional two-wave mixing with partially coherent waves in photorefractive crystals using coupled quasi-monochromatic pump and signal waves. Because the complex amplitudes are stationary random processes of time we can define the corresponding self coherence functions and mutual coherence function. Because the coherence time of a wideband laser source is substantially less than the relaxation time of a typical photorefractive material, the position and profile of the photorefractive grating are nearly temporally constant. As an approximation, the amplitude of the grating is proportional to the mutual coherence of the two waves.