Abstract

A new two-wave-mixing interaction with gain through a ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{12}{\mathrm{SiO}}_{20}$ liquid-crystal light valve is presented. We show that the diffraction of a pump beam in the direction of a weak signal leads to a net amplification of the signal beam, with no need for a phase shift between the interference pattern and the induced index grating. A two-wave-mixing gain of 10 and a 150-ms response time are obtained with a $8.8-\mathit{\mu }\mathrm{m}$-thick liquid-crystal layer, a total intensity of the interacting beams of only $200 \mathit{\mu }\mathrm{W}/{\mathrm{cm}}^2$, and an ac external voltage of $\pm 6 \mathrm{V}$. Image amplification is also demonstrated.

© 1997 Optical Society of America

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