Beam-propagation-dominant instability in an axially pumped solid-state laser near degenerate resonator configurations

Propagation-dominant instabilities and chaos were found under so-called goo d-cavity conditions in an axially pumped solid-state laser operated near th e 1/3-degenerate cavity configuration that had not previously been studied numerically. By using the generalized Huygens integral together with rate e quations, we obtained a V-shaped configuration that depends on a quasi-peri odic threshold. We call the propagation dominant because the laser behaves as a conservative system governed by beam propagation. Although it had prev iously been predicted that chaos would be impossible under nearly degenerat e conditions, we have recognized that the laser is transformed into chaos a s a result of the interplay of beam propagation and gain dynamics as the ca vity is tuned close to degeneracy. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.