Statistical fluctuations in laser transients

Journal Article · Sat Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Phys. Rev. A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.34.4333· OSTI ID:5033521

Zhu, S; Yu, A W; Roy, R

Laser fluctuations are measured and characterized with a new technique based on the concept of first-passage-time distributions. This first-passage-time technique makes it possible to discern quantum noise in a dye laser even in the presence of pump fluctuations that are many orders of magnitude larger. We report new analytic and experimental results for the mean, variance, and skewness of the first-passage-time distributions. The analytic results agree well with numerical computations and experimental measurements. Our technique is particularly suited to the quantitative description of laser fluctuations above threshold; it complements the conventional photoelectric counting and correlation methods which are valuable for lasers below and near threshold but are difficult to implement for lasers far above threshold. The limits of validity of the theory containing a cubic nonlinearity are examined in the context of passage-time measurements. The effects of multiplicative noise and saturation on the variance of the intensity fluctuations are also discussed. A new signature of multiplicative noise is predicted.

• Research Organization: School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
• OSTI ID: 5033521
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. A; (United States) Vol. 34:5; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
AMPLITUDES
BEAM DYNAMICS
FLUCTUATIONS
LASERS
MATHEMATICS
MEASURING METHODS
MECHANICS
OSCILLATIONS
PHASE OSCILLATIONS
QUANTUM MECHANICS
RING LASERS
STATISTICS
VARIATIONS