Phase-conjugate reflection and self-starting optical phase-conjugate oscillation in planar nematic liquid-crystal cells

Abstract

A theoretical model for phase-conjugate reflection of planar nematic liquid-crystal cells is presented based on the continuum theory of liquid crystals and the optical theory of degenerate four-wave mixing. An analytical solution for the phase-conjugate reflectivity R is derived under the undepleted-pump approximation, and the necessary conditions for self-starting optical phase-conjugate oscillation are obtained. The dependence of these conditions on the related physical parameters is also discussed. The reconstruction phenomenon of phase-conjugate light and the self-starting optical phase-conjugate oscillation have been observed experimentally. The intensities of the phase-conjugate light versus the-biased voltages for various incident optical intensities have been measured, and the results agree very well with the prediction of our theoretical model. (C) 2003 Optical Society of America.