MULTISTABILITY AND PERIODIC ALTERNANCE IN A MULTIMODE CO2-LASER WITH A SATURABLE ABSORBER

Authors
WILKOWSKI D HENNEQUIN D DANGOISSE D GLORIEUX P
Citation
D. Wilkowski et al., MULTISTABILITY AND PERIODIC ALTERNANCE IN A MULTIMODE CO2-LASER WITH A SATURABLE ABSORBER, Chaos, solitons and fractals, 4(8-9), 1994, pp. 1683-1698
Citations number
27
Categorie Soggetti
Mathematics,Mechanics,Engineering,"Physics, Applied
Journal title
Chaos, solitons and fractals → ACNP
ISSN journal
09600779
Volume
4
Issue
8-9
Year of publication
1994
Pages
1683 - 1698
Database
ISI
SICI code
0960-0779(1994)4:8-9<1683:MAPAIA>2.0.ZU;2-M
Abstract
The transverse dynamics of a multimode CO2 laser with SF6 as an intrac avity saturable absorber is experimentally studied. Generalized multis tability, periodic alternance and passive Q-switching involving severa l laser transverse modes have been observed. The dynamics is more part icularly studied in the simplest case of the bimode laser where antiph ase and in-phase self-oscillations are obtained. In the highly multimo de case, experimental conditions are found in which the absorber acts as a mode filter that reduces complex transverse patterns to almost pu re Hermite-Gauss modes.