VELOCITY-CHANGING-COLLISION EFFECTS IN SELF-PULSING LASERS

The inclusion of spectral cross-relaxation terms, which stem from stro ng velocity-changing collisions, in the low-dimensional equations, whi ch describe the dynamics of a single-mode, inhomogeneously broadened, unidirectional ring laser, is shown to bring noticeable modifications to the low-excitation self-pulsing phenomena which occur in bad-cavity -configured high-gain lasers. The added cross-relaxation terms are sho wn to reduce both the first and the second laser threshold. These term s are also shown to modify the pulsation wave forms, and to greatly af fect the hierarchy of the dynamical behavior.