A scheme for controlling the polarization of a light wave via its interaction with an auxiliary beam in a nonlinear optical medium is proposed. We first present the linear theory of polarization-dependent wave mixing, where the “probe” beam, whose polarization is to be manipulated, is less intense than the auxiliary beam. Then we show that a simple geometrical arrangement, where the auxiliary and probe are crossing at 90° and the auxiliary is linearly s polarized (orthogonal to the plane of incidence), enables us to control the probe’s polarization even when its intensity exceeds the auxiliary’s intensity. These schemes are of particular interest when the nonlinear optical medium is a plasma, as it might enable dynamic polarization manipulations at ultrafast timescales and far beyond the optics damage threshold of crystal-based photonics devices.
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