Abstract
The parametric four-wave mixing (4WM) process responsible for the generation of coherent blue light in alkali vapors is a self-seeded process which starts by population inversion and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE). Lately, attention has been turned toward frequency up- and down-conversion in alkali vapors, using relatively low pump powers with CW diode lasers. In this Letter, we investigate the interplay between ASE and 4WM in rubidium (Rb) vapors by studying the mid-infrared (mid-IR) radiation emitted in the forward direction at 5.23 μm. We show that the ASE can be suppressed by 4WM in the CW regime. Thus, we demonstrate the generation of coherent mid-IR light at 5.23 μm in hot Rb vapors via parametric 4WM.
Original language | American English |
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Pages (from-to) | 971-974 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Optics Letters |
Volume | 44 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 15 Feb 2019 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Israel Science Foundation (ISF). The research in this Letter was supported by the Israeli Science Foundation (ISF). Yoel Sebbag acknowledges a fellowship from the Hebrew University Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Optical Society of America.