Polarization Characteristics of Optical Three-Wave Mixing Spectroscopy in Isotropic Media

抄録

A theoretical analysis is made of polarization characteristics of three-wave sum (ω₃=2ω₁+ω₂) and difference (ω₃=2ω₁−ω₂) frequency mixing or CARS in isotropic substances. A formula to calculate the polarization state of the combined wave at frequency ω₃ is obtained for the general case of noncollinear pump (ω₁) and probe (ω₂) beams. The conditions are also clarified in which the generated radiation has the same polarization state or the polarization state with the opposite handedness as the input probe beam. The results are compared with a recent experiment of three-wave difference frequency mixing in Hg vapor. Determination of spectroscopic parameters by the application of ellipsometric method to the three-wave mixing is also discussed.