PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PARAMETRIC SCATTERING PROCESSES IN PHOTOREFRACTIVE CRYSTALS

To describe 19 possible types of conical light-induced scattering in p hotorefractive crystals, we propose and develop a phenomenological app roach based on two different phase-matching conditions for scattered a nd pump waves. An application of the phenomenological method to birefr ingent crystals allows for complete description of polarization and ge ometrical properties of conical scattering. The efficiency of the prop osed technique is demonstrated when it is applied in the interpretatio n of complicated scattering patterns observed in LiNbO3:Cu. We also sy stematize the existing data on conical scattering. (C) 1996 Optical So ciety of America