NONLINEAR PLANE-WAVE SOLUTIONS IN THE SEMICLASSIC MAXWELL-BLOCH LASEREQUATIONS

Nonlinear plane wave solutions of dispersive-dissipative generalized M axwell-Bloch laser equations have been investigated. In this framework the original partial differential equations are reduced to a set Of o rdinary differential equations. A rich variety of dynamical behaviours have been found for quite different values of control parameters. In all the cases studied the field variables follow a Ruelle-Takens-Newho use route to chaos, but the energy follows a period doubling route. Th is fact shows that the dynamics of the underlying field variables cann ot be inferred from the behaviour of the energy. A qualitative agreeme nt is found between the above-mentioned solutions and the measured beh aviour of a TEA CO2 laser, and a possible explanation for such agreeme nt is discussed.