Quantum-limited linewidth of a chaotic laser cavity - art. no. 023810

A random-matrix theory is presented for the linewidth of a laser cavity in which the radiation is scattered chaotically. The linewidth is enhanced abo ve the Schawlow-Townes value by the Petermann factor K, due to the nonortho gonality of the cavity modes. The factor K is expressed in terms of a non-H ermitian random matrix, and its distribution is calculated exactly for the case in which the cavity is coupled to the outside via a small opening. The average of K is found to depend nonanalytically on the area of the opening , and to greatly exceed the most probable value.