Coherent-beam amplification and polarization switching in a birefringent medium-photorefractive crystal

A recent theory of polarization switching and beam amplification effect in Kerr-like media is extended to birefringent photorefractive crystals. In this class of material, the birefringence allows a new mechanism for coherent nonlinear mixing effects among the extraordinary and ordinary waves, leading to amplification and polarization switching effects. Analytic solutions of the parametric equations governing these interacting waves are solved for both the phase-matched and phase-mismatched geometries. The authors also present an experimental confirmation of the predicted polarization switching effect