Dynamics and polarization properties of a self-modulated laser with an intracavity quarter-wave plate

The dynamics and polarization properties of self-modulated lasers with a qu arter-wave plate were numerically studied using vectorial equations. At a c ertain pump rate, a stable laser can operate in a self-modulation state sin ce the insertion of a quarter-wave plate in the cavity produces a quadratur e between both of the electric field components. The oscillation period is twice the cavity round-trip time and the laser field is in a swaying linear polarization state. The polarization direction rotates by 90 degrees after one cavity round-trip and, along both directions at 45 degrees and 135 deg rees to the fast axis of the quarter-wave plate, an antiphase behavior is c learly demonstrated. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.