Modulational instability of quasi-plane-wave optical beams biased in photorefractive crystals

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 1996

Authors

Maria Inês Barbosa de Carvalho (Author) FEUP; Singh, SR (Author) Other; Christodoulides, DN (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Optics Communications

Vol. 126

Pages: 167-174

ISSN: 0030-4018

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 50 Citations

Scopus - 55 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-008-PCV

DOI: 10.1016/0030-4018(95)00743-1

Abstract (EN): The modulational instability of quasi-plane-wave optical beams in biased photorefractive media is investigated under steady-state conditions. The spatial. growth rate of the sideband perturbations is obtained by globally treating the space-charge field. Our analysis indicates that the growth rates depend on the strength of the externally applied electric field and, moreover, on the ratio of the optical beam's intensity to that of the dark irradiance. Our results are then compared to previous local treatments of the space-charge field equation. The two approaches are found to be in good agreement in the low spatial-frequency regime provided that the external bias field is sufficiently high. Conversely, in the high spatial-frequency region notable differences may exist. Relevant examples are provided.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8