Abstract

We introduce a semi-self-pumped phase conjugate mirror (PCM) in which one pump is externally injected into a ring resonator while the other is self-induced as in a unidirectional ring resonator. One application is in one-way imaging through optical distortions using a phase conjugate window.¹ The original realization of the phase conjugate window was similar to an externally pumped PCM and had the disadvantage of requiring a clean pump beam coherent with the distorted probe. This meant that the clean beam had to bypass the distortion, thus limiting the practical utility of the device. By replacing the externally pumped PCM portion of the device with a semi-self-pumped PCM, the clean beam can be self-induced as an oscillation beam. The second application is as a thresholding phase conjugate mirror which would be useful, for example, in some optical associative memories.² In the semi-self-pumped phase conjugator, the presence of the externally injected pumping beam suppresses buildup of the self-induced pumping beam until the signal reaches a certain threshold intensity.

© 1986 Optical Society of America