Nonlinear Propagation of Light through a Passive Medium

摘要

We study the nonlinear propagation of light through a passive (nonlasing) medium with particular attention to self focusing and nonlinear effects on the state of polarization. Self focusing seems to be unavoidable in optically dense media, but, so long as the medium is isotropic, we have been unable to discover any serious effects on the polarization. Optically anisotropic media seem possessed of all possible evils and should be avoided.