Nonlinear diffraction in spontaneous three-wave and coherent four-wave light scattering by polaritons

Spontaneous three-wave and coherent four-wave scattering by polaritons in crystalline media with periodically modulated nonlinear quadratic susceptibility have been studied both theoretically and experimentally. Phase matching conditions and an expression for the scattering spectral line shape with due account of cascade processes in nonlinear diffraction for coherent Stokes polariton light scattering have been derived. Measurements of the light intensity distribution due to the three-and four-wave scattering in a LiNbO3:Nd:Mg crystal with a periodic domain structure are in good agreement with theoretical results. The prospects for using the effects of nonlinear diffraction in spectroscopic studies of media with periodic distributions of nonlinear optical parameters, specifically, in precision measurements of the IR refractive index dispersion and determination of the period and profile of the quadratic susceptibility distribution are discussed. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics. [S1063-7761(97>00712-9].