WAVE INTERACTIONS IN SATURABLE ABSORBERS

Abstract

The interaction between waves in an idealized saturable absorber is discussed. It is shown that the presence of a strong wave will cause the line to appear to be ``hole-burned'' when probed by a second wave, even though the broadening mechanisms are conventionally homogeneous. This effect would be expected to work against the tendency of dye-switched ruby lasers to operate in a single mode. Related effects should play a role in optical pulse generators and in other devices using saturable absorbers.