CHARACTERIZATION OF PHASE-CONJUGATED NEAR-FIELD LIGHT SPOTS

Using degenerate four-wave mixing in a Fe:LiNbO3 0.04-wt. % crystal an d incremental recording, we have realized phase conjugation of light e mitted by a fiber tip (of a near-field microscope) alternately placed at two close positions near the crystal surface. We observe with the n ear-field microscope that the phase-conjugated light forms two subwave length-sized spots near the surface; the spots are elongated in the di rection of the crystal optical axis. It is demonstrated that phase-con jugated light spots formed 240 nm apart in the direction perpendicular to the crystal optical axis can still be resolved.