Parametric reversal of nonlinear acoustic waves

A mechanism of parametric reversal of the ultrasonic field from a quasi-monochromatic radiator situated in a nonlinear acoustic medium is proposed and analyzed. The mechanism is based on the phonon-plasmon interaction in semiconductors with a high concentration of electron traps, when a sample is irradiated by a periodic sequence of short laser pulses. The spectrum of output signal and, correspondingly, the temporal profile of the spatially reversed wave are investigated as functions of the intensity and duration of pumping pulses. It is shown that the choice of pumping parameters allows one to control the spectrum of reversed wave and, in particular, closely reproduce the spatiotemporal structure of the original wave. The frequency matching of the nonlinear ultrasonic wave harmonics and the pump Fourier frequencies occurs automatically at a certain pulse repetition rate in this scheme. (C) 2002 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".