Abstract

A phase conjugate Michelson interferometer (PCMI),¹ where both ordinary mirrors in a standard Michelson interferometer have been replaced with phase conjugate reflectors, has been the foundation for a number of new optical device applications, including optical phase detection, image subtraction, novelty filters, and phase conjugate fiber-optic gyroscopes. Additionally, the PCMI can be employed as a new method to measure the time-reversal fidelity of a phase conjugate reflector. This paper compares the time-reversal fidelities of a number of configurations of seif-pumped phase conjugate mirrors² constructed with photorefractive BaTiO₃. The comparison includes both the qualitative phase conjugate imaging method and the quantitative approach using the PCMI. In considering the PCMI, if both phase conjugate mirrors are capable of performing true time reversal of the incident optical waves, the output port of the PCMI is a perfect null, independent of any optical path length variations in either arm of the interferometer.

© 1987 Optical Society of America