Optical parametric amplification by incoherent conical pump beam

Abstract

Optical parametric amplification of an input narrowband signal beam in the field of a spatially incoherent conical pump is investigated. Two amplification regimes – onset and exponential – are distinguished. The possibility to amplify the signal beam significantly and obtain a smooth intensity profile at the output is revealed. It is shown that the incoherent conical beam may act on the signal beam as a plane wave. Good agreement of theoretical and experimental data is obtained.