Abstract

We have built a unidirectional ring resonator which uses barium titanate crystals for both gain and saturated loss. One photorefractive crystal provides gain via two-beam coupling in a conventional unidirectional ring configuration.¹ A second crystal couples light out of the resonator using two-beam coupling, thereby producing loss. The dynamics of this resonator are investigated by observing the temporal buildup of the radiative power in the resonator. The intensity-dependent rates for grating formation are different for the two photorefractive crystals and are also dynamically changing due to the time-varying radiative power in the resonator. In turn, the radiative power in the resonator is dependent on the time-dependent grating strengths in the crystals. This interplay between grating formation and optical feedback is investigated.

© 1988 Optical Society of America