Abstract
We observe experimentally a novel type of nonlinear diffraction in the process of two-wave mixing on a nonlinear quadratic grating. We demonstrate that when the nonlinear grating is illuminated simultaneously by two noncollinear beams, a second-harmonic diffraction pattern is generated by a virtual beam propagating along the bisector of the two pump beams. The observed diffraction phenomena is a purely nonlinear effect that has no analogue in linear diffraction.
- Received 4 December 2009
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.083902
©2010 American Physical Society
Synopsis
Diffraction of a nonexistent beam of light
Published 1 March 2010
Researchers demonstrate a new type of nonlinear diffraction with no linear analog.
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