Resonant Seeding of Stimulated Brillouin Scattering by Crossing Laser Beams

Abstract

This Letter presents the first experimental evidence of seeding of ion acoustic waves (IAW) from stimulated Brillouin scattering along the resonant direction between two interaction beams. Using a secondary interaction beam at a reduced intensity acting as seed, a well defined resonance was observed along the bisecting direction between the two laser beams. A strong reduction of the IAW was observed along off-resonance directions, including for backscatter of the primary beam.