LOSS-INDUCED TRANSVERSE EFFECTS IN LASERS

We analyze the effect of losses on transverse patterns of a single lon gitudinal mode laser. In particular, we find a diffusion term which pr edicts the existence of a diffusive cutoff in the transverse spectrum. The linear stability analysis of the non-lasing solution shows that t he detuning value (Delta = 0), that separates the two types of solutio ns above threshold, shifts to a positive value, which is important for lasers with a high polarization dephasing rate (gamma(perpendicular t o)) such as Class B lasers. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.