COMPETITION BETWEEN ACTIVE-MEDIUM AND EMPTY-CAVITY ANISOTROPIES IN A SINGLE-MODE CLASS-A GAS-LASER

Nonlinear polarization phenomena in a single-longitudinal-mode class-A gas laser are studied at the transition from isotropic to strongly an isotropic cavity conditions. The effects of competition between active -medium and empty-cavity anisotropies, leading to spontaneous pulsatio ns and polarization multistability, are considered at different eigens tates of these anisotropies. Spontaneous polarization symmetry breakin g is discussed, A classification of lasers with respect to their value s of the cavity anisotropy is suggested.