Coherent Nonlinear Optics

Nonlinear optics has been a rapidly growing field in recent decades. It is based on the study of effects and phenomena related to the interaction of intense coherent light radiation with matter. Physics of Nonlinear Optics describes various major nonlinear optical effects, including physical principles, experimental techniques, up-to-date research achievements, and current or potential applications. This book features clear conceptual descriptions, concise formulations, and emphasizes both theoretical and experimental aspects of nonlinear optics. The readability of this book is particularly enhanced by a series of color photographs showing the spectacular appearances of various nonlinear optical effects. Both authors of this book are outstanding research scientists renowned in their professional areas. Their major research achievements in nonlinear optics include the pioneering studies of two-wave-coupled refractive-index change, Raman-enhanced self-focusing, optical-frequency Pockels effect, stimulated Kerr scattering, optical phase-conjugation via backward stimulated emission, and two-photon-absorption based optical limiting, stabilization and reshaping.

Since the early days of nonlinear optics in the 1960s, the field has expanded dramatically, and is now a vast and vibrant field with countless technological applications. Providing a gentle introduction to the principles of the subject, this textbook is ideal for graduate students starting their research in this exciting area. After basic ideas have been outlined, the book offers a thorough analysis of second harmonic generation and related second-order processes, before moving on to third-order effects, the nonlinear optics of short optical pulses and coherent effects such as electromagnetically-induced transparency. A simplified treatment of high harmonic generation is presented at the end. More advanced topics, such as the linear and nonlinear optics of crystals, the tensor nature of the nonlinear coefficients and their quantum mechanical representation, are confined to specialist chapters so that readers can focus on basic principles before tackling these more difficult aspects of the subject.

This book consists of contributions by leading authorities in nonlinear optics and optical physics. The topics covered include fundamental theories and formalisms on nonlinear optics and current topics of interest in optical physics, as well as more specialized subjects such as phase conjugation, nonlinear guided waves, parametric oscillations and some novel materials. The coverage is comprehensive but pedagogical in nature.

Advanced Nonlinear Optics is a revised and updated version of Physics of Nonlinear Optics (1999). This book mainly presents the physical principles of a great number of nonlinear optical effects discovered after the advent of lasers. All these nonlinear optical effects can find their special applications in modern optics and photonics. The major categories of nonlinear optical effects specifically covered in this book are as follows: 1) Second-order (three-wave) frequency mixing; 2) Third-order (four-wave) frequency mixing; 3) Nonlinear refractive-index changes; 4) Self-focusing, self-phase modulation, and spectral self-broadening; 5) Stimulated scattering effects; 6) Optical phase-conjugation; 7) Optical coherent transient effects; 8) Nonlinear spectroscopic effects; 9) Optical bistability; 10) Multi-photon nonlinear optical effects; 11) Fast and slow light effects; 12) Detailed theory of nonlinear susceptibilities. Request Inspection Copy Contents: Introduction to Nonlinear OpticsFundamental Knowledge of Nonlinear Polarization of a MediumSecond-Order Nonlinear (Three-Wave) Frequency MixingThird-Order Nonlinear (Four-Wave) Frequency MixingIntense Light Induced Refractive-Index ChangesSelf-Focusing, Self-Phase Modulation, and Spectral Self-BroadeningStimulated Scattering of Intense Coherent LightOptical Phase ConjugationOptical Coherent Transient EffectsNonlinear Laser Spectroscopic EffectsOptical BistabilityMulti-Photon Nonlinear Optical EffectsPrinciples of Fast and Slow Light PropagationDetailed Theory of Nonlinear SusceptibilitiesAppendices: Physical Constants Commonly Used in Nonlinear OpticsNumerical Estimates and Conversion of UnitsTensor-Elements of the Linear Susceptibility for Crystals and other MediaTensor-Elements of the Second-Order Susceptibility for Various Crystal ClassesTensor-Elements of the Susceptibility of Second-Harmonic Generation for Various Crystal ClassesTensor-Elements of the Third-Order Susceptibility for Crystals and other MediaTensor-Elements of the Nuclear Third-Order Susceptibility in Born-Oppenheimer AproximationThe Solution of Eq. (8.4–14)Derivation of Formulae for Self-Induced Transparency of a 2π-PulseIndex Readership: Graduate students and research scientists/engineers who work in optics, electro-optics, laser technology, opto-electronics, quantum electronics, photonics, engineering, chemistry and other multi-disciplinary fields. Keywords: Optical Physics;Nonlinear Optics;PhotonicsReview: Review of the First Edition: "It is an excellent handbook that can be used by research scientists and engineers working in optics, laser technology, opto-electronics, photonics, chemistry, and a number of other multidisciplinary fields ... The book is well referenced and has a good table of contents. I would recommend it as a must for any optics library." Optics & Photonics News Key Features: Covering a broad scope of modern nonlinear opticsPresenting both schemes of semiclassical theory of nonlinear susceptibility and quantum theory of radiationEmphasizing equally the fundamental theories, key experimental results, and various special applications

This book provides an introduction to quantum optics for experimental physicists and for college students who have studied quantum mechanics. Its distinguishing feature is its emphasis on multimode fields with correlating different-frequency modes, notably on their phenomenological description and on the practical methods of generating them. The phenomena described in this book provide an opportunity to study nonrelativistic quantum electrodynamics and to master many important concepts of theoretical physics.