grimlok@hubcap.UUCP (Mike Percy) (02/08/88)
With all this talk about mirrors reversing, I was wondering if anyone has discussed phase-conjugate mirrors here? My understanding of these nifty devices (gleened from only a single Sci. Amer. article) is that they reflect light without making it 180 degrees ou tof phase. This has the benifit of making transmition interference reversible, etc. The most astounding demonstration was the "spatula air laser". Air was used as the lasing medium, with a phase-conjugate mirror at one end, and a common stainless steel kitchen spatula. Another thing I remember was that in the same experiment, a technician discovered to his dismay? that some reflective thing he was wearing also formed one end of a lasing column. Great article, I'll have to go home & find the date. Any one else know more about these things?