Nonlinear dynamic effects in a two-wave CO2 laser

Theoretical and experimental investigations were made of nonlinear dynamic regimes of the operation of a two-wave CO2 laser with cw excitation in an e lectric discharge and loss modulation in one of the channels, Nonlinear amp litude-frequency characteristics of each of the laser channels have two low -frequency resonance spikes, associated with forced linear oscillations of two coupled oscillators, and high-frequency spikes, corresponding to doubli ng of the period of the output radiation oscillations. At low loss-modulati on frequencies the intensity oscillations of the output radiation in the co upled channels are in antiphase, whereas at high modulation frequencies the dynamics is cophasal. Nonlinear dynamic effects, such as doubling of the p eriod and of the repetition frequency of the pulses and chaotic oscillation s of the output radiation intensity, are observed for certain system parame ters.