Observation of random π phase jumps in a ring laser with backscattering

We have observed jumps of ±π in the phase difference between the two counterpropagating modes of a HeNe ring laser, whenever the complex backscattering coefficients R 1, R 2 satisfy the condition R 1 + R ∗ 2=0. The experiments made use of two retro-reflectors that allowed light to be reflected back...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inOptics communications Vol. 66; no. 4; pp. 238 - 244
Main Authors Christian, W.R., Chyba, T.H., Gage, E.C., Mandel, L.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.05.1988
Elsevier Science
Subjects
Exact sciences and technology
Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications)
Gas lasers including excimer and metal-vapor lasers
Lasers
Optics
Physics
Gas laser
Neon
Phase
Backscattering
Laser
Helium
Stochastic process
Jumping
Ring laser
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Summary:We have observed jumps of ±π in the phase difference between the two counterpropagating modes of a HeNe ring laser, whenever the complex backscattering coefficients R 1, R 2 satisfy the condition R 1 + R ∗ 2=0. The experiments made use of two retro-reflectors that allowed light to be reflected back into the ring laser cavity with controllable amplitudes and phases. The phase jumps are usually accompanied by oscillatory instabilities of the two mode intensities. The observed behavior is found to be consistent with computer solutions of the coupled equations of motion.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-1
content type line 23
ISSN:0030-4018
1873-0310
DOI:10.1016/0030-4018(88)90269-6