NONLINEAR EMISSION IN SODIUM VAPOR UPON PULSED-LASER EXCITATION OF THE 4(2)P LEVELS

Parametric four-wave mixing, stimulated electronic Raman scattering and amplified spontaneous emission cascades have been studied experimentally by single-photon resonant and near-resonant excitation of the 4 P-2 levels of dense sodium vapour. The dependence of emission intensities on laser detuning and exciting laser power is discussed