Effects of unequal pump intensity in resonantly enhanced degenerate four-wave mixing

Experiments performed in SF
6
using a CO
2
laser show the effect of unequal pump intensity in resonantly enhanced degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM). A two-level saturable absorber model was extended to include the effects of unequal pump intensity and the results show significant departure from typical nonsaturating behavior. The experimental results and theory show qualitative agreement.