Abstract

We report an experimental investigation of an ultrasensitive coherent amplifier (USCA) operated at a 10-Hz repetition rate. We measure its quantum-noise-limited sensitivity, amplification, and image resolution. The USCA consisted of two Nd:YAG amplifiers in series with a high-gain four-wave Brillouin mirror with SnCl₄ as the Brillouin medium. We measure a noise-equivalent-energy sensitivity of 1.96 × 10⁻¹⁹ J/mode or 1 photon/mode at a quantum efficiency of 96%. The system has an overall optical gain of 2.5 × 10¹³. With a version of the USCA equipped with an imaging lens system, we demonstrate the amplification and phase conjugation of entire images with a resolution of 164 μrad across a field of view of 4 mrad or 21 × 21 resolution elements. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a repetitively pulsed USCA.

© 1992 Optical Society of America

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