Fourth-order coherence-function theory of laser-induced molecular reorientational grating and population grating

We have employed fourth-order coherence-function theory to study the influence of the partial-coherence properties of pump beams on the laser-induced gratings. First, we examine the formation of molecular reorientational grating. The different roles of phase fluctuation and amplitude fluctuation have been pointed out. A time-delayed method has been proposed to distinguish molecular reorientational grating from thermal grating. We then apply the fourth-order theory to study the Bragg reflection from a population grating. We obtain an analytic solution which enables us to make an extensive investigation on the temporal behaviour of the Bragg reflection signal. This study is especially helpful for elucidating the generation mechanism of population grating.