Frequency-time and time-space mappings for single-shot coherent four-wave mixing with chirped pulses and broad beams

The possibilities of using chirped pulses and broad beams for single-shot m easurements in coherent four-wave mixing (FWM) are examined. The idea of su ch measurements is based on the fact that chirped pulses define a linear tr ansform, mapping the difference between the instantaneous frequencies of pu mp pulses on to the delay time between these pulses. This delay between the pump pulses can be then mapped onto the spatial coordinate with the use of a broad-beam FWM geometry. We consider various modifications of chirped-pu lse FWM techniques, including degenerate and non-degenerate four-wave mixin g, coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering and Raman-induced Kerr effect. The ways of extending the single-shot broad-beam FWM concept to multidimension al wave-mixing techniques are discussed, and the possibilities of full reco nstruction of the third-order non-linear optical susceptibility in the time domain as a function of its time variables for non-stationary molecular sy stems are explored. Copyright Cc, (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.