Abstract

Transverse pattern formation is commonplace in nonlinear optics [1] and has been observed in a wide variety of experimental realisations. Recently, optical patterns have been predicted to arise and to lower the threshold of operation in Optical Parametric Oscillators (OPO) [2]. OPO are, however, the most common devices used to generate squeezed light and it is natural to study the interrelation between pattern formation and nonclassical light. In particular it has been shown that close to threshold the maximum squeezing of the vacuum originates along the direction identified by the critical wave- vector corresponding to the roll pattem which forms above threshold [3].

© 1996 Optical Society of America