A Conversation for Nonlinear Optics
Peer Review: A773174 - Nonlinear Optics
Euan - † - Getting a new laser to play with - woohoo Started conversation Jan 24, 2003
Entry: Nonlinear Optics - A773174
Author: Euan, Quester, MJ, Thingite, Knight - I could go on... - U196968
I am hoping that this article will form the basis of a (somewhat 
y) set of pages on nonlinear optics.
The linked pages will make their ways across to PR over the next few days/weeks, and I hope that you'll forgive the number of them.
A773174 - Nonlinear Optics
Gilgamesh of Uruk Posted Jan 24, 2003
Some of this has close analogues (unsurprisingly) 
in sonic wave processes - such as the "sum & difference" use of the quint in organ building. It's even less surprising that similar things happen at radio frequencies, (SSB / DSB broadcasting for example) too, but I wonder if it might be worth mentioning somewhere in one of your entries? 
A773174 - Nonlinear Optics
Dryopithecus Posted Jan 24, 2003
Thanks for that, Euan. I found it fascinating. I particularly liked the explanation of self-focussing, as used in fibre optics.
Many people may not like the fact that it's not padded out with trivial chat, but I find trivia get in the way of the message, so I get bored & switch off.
Dry.
A773174 - Nonlinear Optics
Dryopithecus Posted Jan 24, 2003
I hope you don't mind me pointing out a couple of facts about tensors. (I'm sure you know these, but other readers may not.)
If one quantity in an equation is a tensor, then some of the other quantities must be tensors also.
A tensor is not just any 1*n, n*n or other matrix, it is a quantity which, when we change coordinates, transforms in such a way that the equations in which it is involved are unchanged.
Correct me if I'm wrong but, in your example, I think the polarisation and field are tensors. If we change coordinates, the components of all these tensors will change, but the equation will look the same.
Dry.
A773174 - Nonlinear Optics
Euan - † - Getting a new laser to play with - woohoo Posted Jan 24, 2003
Well, polarisation and field are vectors and susceptability is a tensor (or E and P are order 1 tensors, if you like.)
A773174 - Nonlinear Optics
SallyM Posted Jan 26, 2003
Well as a linear optics student I got most of that. 
Saw one missed . in the first paragraph.
If this is a series on a similar topics had you thought of doing a University project with them? http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A339059
Apart from that i'll look forward to the rest
SallyM 
A773174 - Nonlinear Optics
Euan - † - Getting a new laser to play with - woohoo Posted Jan 27, 2003
Hi Sally.
Yes I had, but as I understood it the University was in a state of transition.
I'll look into it. Maybe we could work together, although I've got some stuff on a lot if things...
A773174 - Nonlinear Optics
Euan - † - Getting a new laser to play with - woohoo Posted Jan 27, 2003
OK. Looks to me like I should go the University Route. I'll take these out of PR just now.
Thanks for your time, everyone.
Euan
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Peer Review: A773174 - Nonlinear Optics
- 1: Euan - † - Getting a new laser to play with - woohoo (Jan 24, 2003)
- 2: Gilgamesh of Uruk (Jan 24, 2003)
- 3: Dryopithecus (Jan 24, 2003)
- 4: Dryopithecus (Jan 24, 2003)
- 5: Euan - † - Getting a new laser to play with - woohoo (Jan 24, 2003)
- 6: SallyM (Jan 26, 2003)
- 7: Euan - † - Getting a new laser to play with - woohoo (Jan 27, 2003)
- 8: Euan - † - Getting a new laser to play with - woohoo (Jan 27, 2003)
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