Laser and noise-driven operation in swept-gain lasers

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Phys. Rev. A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.27.2268· OSTI ID:5926779

Hopf, F A

The influence of noise on laser operation is considered for swept-gain lasers and laser amplifiers in which the velocity of the gain medium must be decreased relative to the velocity of light in order to achieve lasing action. The noise is introduced through the tipping-angle approximation, which leads to a simple, if perhaps unrealistic, formulation of the problem. Such a laser is tuned by desynchronizing the gain medium with the optical pulse, which is the procedure used in the Stanford free-electron laser (FEL). In so doing, the FEL tunes over regions of true lasing (gain > loss), and over regions where the output is sustained by amplified spontaneous emission (noise driven). The power in the noise-driven regime is not necessarily small compared to the power in the lasing regime. The regimes are identified, the fluctuations are computed, and the connection with the FEL is discussed.

• Research Organization: Optical Science Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
• OSTI ID: 5926779
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. A; (United States) Vol. 27:4; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
AMPLIFICATION
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
FIELD EQUATIONS
FREE ELECTRON LASERS
GAIN
LASERS
MAXWELL EQUATIONS
NOISE
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PULSES
SATURATION
SINE-GORDON EQUATION
WAVE PROPAGATION