A complete review of the state of the art of phase conjugate lasers, including laser demonstrations, performances, technology and selection of the most important class of nonlinear media. * Emphasizes the basic aspects of phase conjugation. * Chapter authors have all made major contributions to their subjects.

A complete review of the state of the art of phase conjugate lasers, including laser demonstrations, performances, technology and selection of the most important class of nonlinear media. Emphasizes the basic aspects of phase conjugation. Chapter authors have all made major contributions to their subjects.

This book has been prompted by our des ire to share with others our apprecia tion of the harmony and beauty in a particular sphere of modern optics known as "optical phase conjugation". Practical applications of the phase conjugated wave are likely to be far-reaching. Optical phase conjugation (OPC) combines in itself aesthetic and pragmatic attractiveness, a synthesis that has made OPC a subject of general attention. The figure presents the ap proximate rate of publications (number of articles per year) on OPC in the world literature for recent years, the lower curve denoting the work carried out in the USSR. The efforts of a large unofficial international collective have yielded an impressive result. 150 100 50 1975 1980 At present, the physical pro ces ses underlying various OPC methods are quite understandable, and it is the physics of OPC to which our book is devoted. Practical and scientific applications of phase-conjugated waves, which are of no less interest, have been touched upon in short, as major achievements in this sphere are a matter of the future. Today there are two main methods of OPC: i) by backward stimulated light scattering, ii) by four-wave mixing. Naturally, much attention is given to these methods in our book which, after the introductory Chap. 1, can be divided into two almost independent parts - Chaps. 2 - 5, and Chaps. 6 - 8.

This book appears at a time of intense activity in optical phase conjugation. We chose not to await the maturation of the field, but instead to provide this material in time to be useful in its development. We have tried very hard to elucidate and interrelate the various nonlinear phenomena which can be used for optical phase conjugation.

Applications of semiconductor lasers with optical feedback systems are driving rapid developments in theoretical and experimental research. The very broad wavelength-gain-bandwidth of semiconductor lasers combined with frequency-filtered, strong optical feedback create the tunable, single frequency laser systems utilised in telecommunications, environmental sensing, measurement and control. Those with weak to moderate optical feedback lead to the chaotic semiconductor lasers of private communication. This resource illustrates the diversity of dynamic laser states and the technological applications thereof, presenting a timely synthesis of current findings, and providing the roadmap for exploiting their future potential. * Provides theory-based explanations underpinned by a vast range of experimental studies on optical feedback, including conventional, phase conjugate and frequency- filtered feedback in standard, commercial and single-stripe semiconductor lasers * Includes the classic Lang-Kobayashi equation model, through to more recent theory, with new developments in techniques for solving delay differential equations and bifurcation analysis * Explores developments in self-mixing interferometry to produce sub-nanometre sensitivity in path-length measurements * Reviews tunable single frequency semiconductor lasers and systems and their diverse range of applications in sensing and optical communications * Emphasises the importance of synchronised chaotic semiconductor lasers using optical feedback and private communications systems Unlocking Dynamical Diversity illustrates all theory using real world examples gleaned from international cutting-edge research. Such an approach appeals to industry professionals working in semiconductor lasers, laser physics and laser applications and is essential reading for researchers and postgraduates in these fields.

This book, intended for students, researchers and engineers, is a collection of classic papers on photorefractive nonlinear optics. Included are landmark papers on fundamental photorefractive phenomena, two-wave mixing, four-wave mixing, phase conjugators and resonators, material growth and physics, and applications in image processing, optical storage and optical computing.