TIME-DOMAIN ANALYSIS OF FREQUENCY-MODULATION LASER OSCILLATION

A simple analytical model of frequency-modulation (FM) laser operation is proposed in terms of a master equation time-domain description. Th e analysis is capable of capturing the main experimental features of F M oscillation, including the dependence of modulation depth on cavity parameters, distortion effects induced by finite cavity gain bandwidth , and transition to FM mode-locking operation. Experimental results fo r a FM erbium-ytterbium-glass laser show good agreement with the theor etical predictions. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.