The dynamics of a solid-state laser sustaining the oscillation of the Lague
rre-Gaussian TEM*(0,l) mode is theoretically and experimentally studied. Th
e results of investigations of the existence conditions of self-modulation,
chaotic. frequency locking, and self-pulsing regimes are given. The experi
mental results, obtained using a diode-pumped solid-state laser, are well c
onfirmed by the theoretical model. From the observations of the locking phe
nomena of the first-order family, we also confirm the theoretical predictio
ns that the locking occurs as a subcritical bifurcation in a solid-state la
ser.