Efficient and fast optical phase conjugation by use of two-photon-induced gratings in the orientation of angular momentum.

Optical phase conjugation (OPC) is of interest for many applications. The generation of squeezed light, phase-conjugate mirrors, optical correlation, and turbulence correction would all benefit from improved OPC performance. Using Zeeman sublevels and cross-circularly polarized light in rubidium vapor, we demonstrate an OPC process that uses very low power (30 mW) but is still very fast (60 ns) and efficient (gain of 20). This process is generic enough to be applicable to almost any resonant medium.