Beam clean-up and combining using orientational stimulated scattering in liquid crystals

Beam clean-up and combining using stimulated orientational scattering in nematics is considered. Dynamics of the process is studied, high conversion efficiency and stability with respect to pump fluctuations is demonstrated. Thus, we have demonstrated the possibility of beam clean-up by modeling the process of SOS in NLC. We showed that high conversion efficiency can be achieved, and that the shape and wave-front of the amplified output signal are robust with respect to amplitude and phase distortions of the input pump. We found that the process is limited in longitudinal direction due to the emerging power back-transfer from amplified signal into the pump wave. In summary, Stimulated Orientational Scattering in nematic liquid crystals promises very good prospects for beam clean-up and combining.