Permanent dipole moments and damping in nonlinear optics A quantum electrodynamic description

Based on the well-known transformation of the electric-dipole interaction, different nonlinear optical processes are analysed. The transformation provides a convenient means for ascertaining the effects of permanent dipoles on the optical behaviour of systems with a response dominated by two energy levels. By establishing the general validity of the procedure for parametric and non-parametric processes, it is shown how the detailed structure of the optical nonlinearity can be ascertained, based on a novel interpretation of the relevant quantum electrodynamical Feynman diagrams. This transformation is used to analysed a novel five-wave mixing process, which is also developed in this thesis. This process is of considerable interest for its involvement in the generation of even harmonics in isotropic media. Also, the flexibility in the beam geometry affords considerable scope for the study of the polarisation and angular dependence. Finally, a general study of the effects of resonance in matter-radiation interactions is given, justifying the phenomenological incorporation of the damping addenda. The two alternative convention used when the damping is introduced are discussed, showing that both conventions lead to different physical results. Based on these studies the resonance effects are considered in relation to different multiphoton processes. (author)SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:DXN036784 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo