Abstract

We study the evolution of modes in several structures of interest in nonlinear optics. In studies of resonators with phase conjugate elements are present Fox and Li-type calculations for resonators containing idealized phase-conjugate mirrors and ideal and nonideal conventional mirrors. We find that for a range of resonator geometries, Gaussian-type modes and higher-order Gaussian-type modes that are stable in the Fox and Li sense do evolve after a succession of round trips. The nature of this evolution is distinct from resonators with ordinary mirrors; the more orderly transient behavior associated with a phase-conjugate minor resonator elucidates the role of the phase-conjugate mirror. We use a similar approach to calculate the mode evolution time and character for a mode in a spherical microdroplet.

© 1991 Optical Society of America