Quantum interference in phase conjugation by resonant, nearly degenerate four-wave mixing

We present a theoretical investigation of optical phase conjugation by use of nearly degenerate four-wave mixing in a two-level atomic system. The description is based on the semiclassical dressed-state approach, which offers a very transparent picture of the physics involved in the nonlinear process. The theory provides an explanation in terms of a quantum interference between two channels for the strong reduction of the optical phase-conjugate yield when the pump fields are tuned to the atomic resonance. In addition, the model predicts an efficient generation of the optical phase conjugate if the system is prepared in a pure dressed state. [S1050-2947(99)08708-9].