Transient wavefront reversal in four-wave interaction in resonant media

Equations describing a transient degenerate four-wave interaction in a resonant medium are derived and solved numerically. The approximation of a "following" nonlinear polarization state is used to determine the range of values of the parameters of the medium and the radiation field in which the efficiency of a transient four-wave interaction is higher than that of the steady-state process. It is found that amplification of weak radiation as a result of transient energy exchange can only be achieved in the four-wave interaction for different pump wave intensities.