Tensor description of anisotropy in light amplification by dye solutions

Experimental data on the amplification of polarized light in optical quantum amplifiers utilizing laserpumped dyes show that, in general, the polarization of the amplified light differs from that of the light being amplified. A theory is put forward whereby this effect is related to the anisotropy of the stimulated emission characteristic of complex organic molecules and is interpreted as a difference between the polarizations of the stimulated emission and stimulating radiation. The complex polarizability tensor is used as the main optical characteristic of complex molecules. The possibility of using the difference between the polarizations of the stimulated emission and stimulating radiation to produce light-amplifying polarizers and optical switches is indicated.