Observation of optical chaos in a phase-conjugate resonator

The outcoupled power of a phase-conjugate resonator that uses four-wave mixing in BaTiO(3) is observed to undergo transitions from steady to periodic and from periodic to chaotic behavior as a function of time. Period doubling, period-three cycles, and period-five cycles are observed. Control parameters for the transitions are the diameter of an intracavity pinhole aperture, the length of the resonator, and the radius of curvature of the outcoupling mirror.