Abstract

Lasers coupled to phase conjugate external cavities are of interest because of the potential impact on laser phasing. The boundary conditions for a laser coupled to a bare phase-conjugate cavity and for two lasers coupled via a double phase conjugate mirror (DPCM) are derived. The analysis indicates that the phase shift on the beams returning from the external cavity is equal to 2nπ, where n is an integer, regardless of external cavity length. Data collected on the bare cavity supports this conclusion. The difference between reflection from a self-pumped photorefractive phase-conjugate mirror (PCM) and a four-wave mixing PCM are explained. The implications of this work for laser phasing are discussed.

© 1992 Optical Society of America