Polarization interference of multi-wave mixing in a confined five-level system

► The four-wave mixing, six-wave mixing and eight-wave mixing processes can be modified by the polarization interference in ultra-thin, micrometer and long cells. ► The degree of destructive interference of atomic polarizations can be controlled by the wave vector, dressing field and cell length. ► The inner dressing field suppresses the destructive polarization interference in micrometer and long cells, induces resonance enhancement, and the outer dressing field only enhances destructive interference for a doubly-dressed four-wave mixing.