Abstract
It has been predicted1–3 theoretically that the gain and reflectivity of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) are independent of the mode structure of the pump laser in conditions that are often met in practice: laser mode spacing larger than the Brillouin linewidth and laser coherence length larger than the Brillouin gain length. These theoretical predictions are valid, however, only as long as competition with other nonlinear processes can be neglected. Competing processes such as stimulated Raman scattering, stimulated Rayleigh-wing scattering, and self-focusing are often characterized by steady-state gain coefficients that are smaller and by buildup times that are shorter than that of SBS. SBS therefore dominates in steady-state conditions. However, because these faster competing processes can respond at the frequency of mode beating in a multimode laser, they can reach threshold during the high intensity parts of the laser puise and hence decrease the efficiency of the SBS process.
© 1986 Optical Society of America
PDF ArticleMore Like This
MICHAEL T. DUIGNAN, BARRY J. FELDMAN, and WAYNE T. WHITNEY
FBB4 International Quantum Electronics Conference (IQEC) 1986
Michael G. Raymer
WB4 International Laser Science Conference (ILS) 1986
D. Rogovin
TUI6 OSA Annual Meeting (FIO) 1986