We present an analysis of what is called parametric oscillation in photorefractive media. It is shown theoretically that when a running grating and a constant electric field are applied to a photorefractive medium it is possible for two secondary gratings to grow spontaneously. These theoretical predictions are subsequently verified experimentally in the crystal Bi₁₂SiO₂₀, and excellent qualitative agreement is obtained. In previous subharmonic experiments, only grating vectors K/2, K/3, and K/4 were observed. Now, however, a whole continuum of grating vectors has been observed. Thus subharmonic generation in photorefractive materials is simply a special case of parametric oscillation in which the two secondary gratings are identical.

© 1995 Optical Society of America

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