Quantum theory of multiwave mixing. III. Averages over inhomogeneous broadening, spatial hole burning, and Gaussian beams

Abstract
The effects of inhomogeneous broadening, spatial hole burning, and Gaussian beams are calculated for the four coefficients derived in previous papers in this series [Phys. Rev. A 31, 3112 (1985); 31, 3124 (1985)] on the quantum theory of multiwave mixing. These coefficients uniformly describe how one or two strong classical-field modes and one or two weak quantum-field modes interact in a two-level medium. The phenomena for which this theory is applicable includes resonance fluorescence, Rayleigh scattering, laser and/or optical bistability instabilities, and phase conjugation. The averaged formulas are illustrated by resonance-fluorescence spectra. We find the sidepeaks can be ‘‘washed out’’ and that asymmetries can occur.