Abstract

We have found that stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) can be seeded by the pump laser; that is, SBS can be brought from below to above threshold by introducing backward-going XeCl laser light with a bandwidth exceeding the Brillouin frequency shift. While we have only demonstrated amplitude control as yet, the seeding process should also affect the phase of the scattered beam and the fidelity of the phase conjugation. We have taken some initial steps toward addressing the latter issue.

© 1986 Optical Society of America