Abstract

A two-state atom near the surface of a four- wave-mixing phase conjugator (PC) is considered. This atom is irradiated by a strong laser beam that propagates parallel to the surface of the nonlinear medium. We have evaluated the spectral distribution of the resonance fluorescence that is emitted by this system. The Mollow triplet (the spectrum for a driven atom in empty space) is altered because of the presence of the PC. The strengths of the fluorescence line and the three-photon line are modified, which can be explained by the fact that the PC affects the relaxation of the atom. However, the Rayleigh line is brought about by elastic scattering of laser photons, and this process is independent of atomic spontaneous decay or any other process. Indeed, near a PC the strength of this line is the same as for an atom in empty space. The positions of the three lines are not influenced by the PC.

© 1992 Optical Society of America