Suppression of Amplified Spontaneous Emission by the Four-Wave Mixing Process

摘要

Two-photon-resonant excitation of the sodium 3d level can lead to the generation of new frequencies either by amplified spontaneous emission at the 3d to 3p transition frequency or by a resonantly enhanced four-wave mixing process. Competition between these two processes has been observed. The four-wave mixing process can suppress amplified spontaneous emission by preventing the excitation of the 3d level due to an interference between two different pathways connecting the ground (3s) and 3d states. (Reprint)