Abstract

We have observed the theoretically predicted central dark zone formation in a continuous-wave propagation experiment that is not due to thermal changes in the index of refraction. The effect has been observed in a pink ruby rod with argon-ion and dye lasers. The results confirm the requirements of an optically thick and highly saturated medium for experimental observation of the effect.

© 1989 Optical Society of America

Experimental study of the dynamics of a ruby laser pumped by a cw argon-ion laser

R. S. Afzal, W. P. Lin, and N. M. Lawandy
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 6(12) 2348-2354 (1989)

Determination of the phase of the complex nonlinear refractive index by transient two-wave mixing in saturable absorbers

S. A. Boothroyd, J. Chrostowski, and M. S. O’Sullivan
Opt. Lett. 14(17) 946-948 (1989)

Propagation properties of dark solitons

W. Zhao and E. Bourkoff
Opt. Lett. 14(13) 703-705 (1989)

Evolution of gain and absorption in a cw mode-locked dye laser

Y. X. Wu and P.-T. Ho
Opt. Lett. 14(7) 362-363 (1989)

Passively mode-locked cw Coumarin 6 ring dye laser

P. M. W. French, M. M. Opalinska, and J. R. Taylor
Opt. Lett. 14(4) 217-218 (1989)