parametric oscillator
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parametric oscillator
[¦par·ə¦me·trik ′äs·ə‚lād·ər] (electronics)
An oscillator in which the reactance parameter of an energy-storage device is varied to obtain oscillation.
(optics)
A device consisting of an optically nonlinear crystal surrounded by a pair of mirrors to which is applied a relatively high-frequency laser beam and a relatively low-frequency signal, resulting in a low-frequency output whose frequency can be varied, usually by varying the indices of refraction.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.