Physical Review A

Noise effects in intrinsic laser polarization switching

Kais A. M. Al Naimee, I. Leyva, Inés P. Mariño, R. Meucci, F. T. Arecchi

Published Jun 3, 2008• 6 citations

Abstract

A quasi-isotropic ${\text{CO}}_{2}$ laser near the resonant condition can present bistability in the polarization state, with spontaneous flips between two orthogonal linear polarization eigenmodes. In this work, we explore the role of the pump and noise on the polarization dynamics, showing a transition from stable to bistable states and the presence of coherent resonance.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.77.063803

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Noise effects in intrinsic laser polarization switching

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A quasi-isotropic CO2 laser near the resonant condition can present bistability in the polarization state, with spontaneous flips between two orthogonal linear polarization eigenmodes. In this work, we explore the role of the pump and noise on the polarization dynamics, showing a transition from stable to bistable states and the presence of coherent resonance.

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Polarization states and coherent effects in a coherently pumped J″=1→J=0→J′=1 isotropic-cavity laser

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Physical Review A

Noise effects in intrinsic laser polarization switching

Kais A. M. Al Naimee, I. Leyva, Inés P. Mariño, R. Meucci, F. T. Arecchi

Published Jun 3, 2008• 6 citations

Publisher

Abstract

A quasi-isotropic

{\text{CO}}_{2}

laser near the resonant condition can present bistability in the polarization state, with spontaneous flips between two orthogonal linear polarization eigenmodes. In this work, we explore the role of the pump and noise on the polarization dynamics, showing a transition from stable to bistable states and the presence of coherent resonance.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.77.063803

Related papers

Noise effects in intrinsic laser polarization switching

Al Naimee K., Leyva I, Inés P. Mariño +2 more

Jan 1, 20080 citations

Polarization switching in an anisotropic cavity coherently pumped J=1→J′=0 laser

Carles Serrat, Ramon A. Vilaseca, Germán J. de Valcárcel +1 more

We show that, in an optically pumped resonant $J=1\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{J}^{\ensuremath{'}}=0$ laser, a gain anisotropy is induced by a linearly polarized coherent pump beam that can be balanced or countered by $x$ - $y$ cavity-loss anisotropies, leading to switching between the $x$ and $y$ linearly polarized states of the generated laser field as the laser intensity is increased. This switching is not brought about by selection of the mode with the maximum emission intensity. A domain of bistability between the two linearly polarized states is found, whose width depends on the value of the decay rate of the two photon coherence induced among the sublevels of the $J=1$ level manifold. Differently from the incoherently pumped $J=1\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{J}^{\ensuremath{'}}=0$ laser, the decay rate for the magnetic dipole in that manifold has no influence on the polarization of the emission.We show that, in an optically pumped resonant $J=1\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{J}^{\ensuremath{'}}=0$ laser, a gain anisotropy is induced by a linearly polarized coherent pump beam that can be balanced or countered by $x$-$y$ cavity-loss anisotropies, leading to switching between the $x$ and $y$ linearly polarized states of the generated laser field as the laser intensity is increased. This switching is not brought about by selection of the mode with the maximum emission intensity. A domain of bistability between the two linearly polarized states is found, whose width depends on the value of the decay rate of the two photon coherence induced among the sublevels of the $J=1$ level manifold. Differently from the incoherently pumped $J=1\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{J}^{\ensuremath{'}}=0$ laser, the decay rate for the magnetic dipole in that manifold has no influence on the polarization of the emission.

Physical Review ASep 1, 199711 citations

Light Polarization of a Quasi-isotropic Laser with Optical Feedback

Guy Michel Stéphan, D. Hugon

The light of a quasi-isotropic, single-mode gas laser is linearly polarized for a line ${J}_{a}=1\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{J}_{b}=2$. However, the azimuth of polarization can vary inside the line. Among the many different effects which cause these variations, we describe the role played by the detector optical feedback. We show experimentally that its amplitude and phase can be varied in a controlled manner in order to obtain abrupt switches between two perpendicular polarization states. Polarization bistability and hysteresis effects can then be commanded and studied from the outside of the laser.The light of a quasi-isotropic, single-mode gas laser is linearly polarized for a line ${J}_{a}=1\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{J}_{b}=2$. However, the azimuth of polarization can vary inside the line. Among the many different effects which cause these variations, we describe the role played by the detector optical feedback. We show experimentally that its amplitude and phase can be varied in a controlled manner in order to obtain abrupt switches between two perpendicular polarization states. Polarization bistability and hysteresis effects can then be commanded and studied from the outside of the laser.

Physical Review LettersAug 12, 198541 citations

Vectorial bistability in a quasi-isotropic laser

D. Hugon, Guy Michel Stéphan

The domain of vectorial bistability observable in the polarization flip of a quasi-isotropic laser is theoretically and experimentally shown to decrease when light intensity increases.

Journal de physiqueJan 1, 19864 citations

Nonlinear dynamics of an optically pumped laser with pump polarization modulation:stabilization of unstable steady states

Alexander M. Kul'minskii, Ramon A. Vilaseca, R. Corbalán

We study theoretically the dynamic behavior of a J′=1→J″=0 laser (J is the angular momentum quantum number) optically pumped by means of a linearly polarized coherent field (coupled to an adjacent transition J=0→J′=1) when the pump field polarization is rotated at a constant angular velocity Ω and the laser field polarization either is fixed by the cavity or is free (isotropic cavity). Because of a strong pump-induced gain anisotropy, the dynamic behavior is completely different in each case. In the case of fixed laser field polarization, rich amplitude dynamics, which depend on the pump field strength, are found. At slow modulation frequencies (with respect to the molecular and the cavity relaxation rates), the system does not always follow the sequence of stationary and dynamic solutions that correspond to the autonomous laser as a function of the relative orientation angle between the polarizations of the pump and the laser fields. Phenomena such as delayed switching and suppression of chaos and stabilization of unstable steady states are found. In the case of an isotropic cavity, the pump field vector rotation is transferred to the laser field vector and amplitude unstable regimes are also strongly inhibited.We study theoretically the dynamic behavior of a J′=1→J″=0 laser (J is the angular momentum quantum number) optically pumped by means of a linearly polarized coherent field (coupled to an adjacent transition J=0→J′=1) when the pump field polarization is rotated at a constant angular velocity Ω and the laser field polarization either is fixed by the cavity or is free (isotropic cavity). Because of a strong pump-induced gain anisotropy, the dynamic behavior is completely different in each case. In the case of fixed laser field polarization, rich amplitude dynamics, which depend on the pump field strength, are found. At slow modulation frequencies (with respect to the molecular and the cavity relaxation rates), the system does not always follow the sequence of stationary and dynamic solutions that correspond to the autonomous laser as a function of the relative orientation angle between the polarizations of the pump and the laser fields. Phenomena such as delayed switching and suppression of chaos and stabilization of unstable steady states are found. In the case of an isotropic cavity, the pump field vector rotation is transferred to the laser field vector and amplitude unstable regimes are also strongly inhibited.

Journal of the Optical Society of America BJul 1, 19991 citation

Polarization states and coherent effects in a coherently pumped J″=1→J=0→J′=1 isotropic-cavity laser

Alexander M. Kul'minskii, Ramon A. Vilaseca, R. Corbalán +1 more

We have theoretically explored the behavior of a coherently pumped ${J}^{\ensuremath{''}}=\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{1}J=\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{0}{J}^{\ensuremath{'}}=1$ isotropic cavity laser and compared it with the behavior of other related laser systems involving atomic or molecular levels with angular quantum numbers $0$ and $1.$ It is shown that at low and moderate pumping strengths it behaves very differently from the ${J}^{\ensuremath{''}}=\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{0}J=\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{1}{J}^{\ensuremath{'}}=0$ laser exhibiting no pump-induced gain anisotropy and allowing for linearly polarized (LP) solutions with arbitrary azimuth and circularly polarized (CP) solutions, depending on the values of the molecular relaxation rates. Above the instability threshold, a variety of dynamic regimes involving the polarization degree of freedom can be found, including LP states with rotating azimuth (as in incoherently pumped $J=\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{0}{J}^{\ensuremath{'}}=1$ or $J=\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{1}{J}^{\ensuremath{'}}=0$ lasers), antiphase dynamics, and full polarization chaos.We have theoretically explored the behavior of a coherently pumped ${J}^{\ensuremath{''}}=\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{1}J=\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{0}{J}^{\ensuremath{'}}=1$ isotropic cavity laser and compared it with the behavior of other related laser systems involving atomic or molecular levels with angular quantum numbers $0$ and $1.$ It is shown that at low and moderate pumping strengths it behaves very differently from the ${J}^{\ensuremath{''}}=\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{0}J=\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{1}{J}^{\ensuremath{'}}=0$ laser exhibiting no pump-induced gain anisotropy and allowing for linearly polarized (LP) solutions with arbitrary azimuth and circularly polarized (CP) solutions, depending on the values of the molecular relaxation rates. Above the instability threshold, a variety of dynamic regimes involving the polarization degree of freedom can be found, including LP states with rotating azimuth (as in incoherently pumped $J=\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{0}{J}^{\ensuremath{'}}=1$ or $J=\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{1}{J}^{\ensuremath{'}}=0$ lasers), antiphase dynamics, and full polarization chaos.

Physical Review AAug 17, 20005 citations

A quasi-isotropic

{\text{CO}}_{2}

x

y

cavity-loss anisotropies, leading to switching between the

x

and

y

linearly polarized states of the generated laser field as the laser intensity is increased. This switching is not brought about by selection of the mode with the maximum emission intensity. A domain of bistability between the two linearly polarized states is found, whose width depends on the value of the decay rate of the two photon coherence induced among the sublevels of the

J=1

level manifold. Differently from the incoherently pumped $J=1\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{J}^{\ensuremath{'}}=0$ laser, the decay rate for the magnetic dipole in that manifold has no influence on the polarization of the emission.

0

and

1.

It is shown that at low and moderate pumping strengths it behaves very differently from the ${J}^{\ensuremath{''}}=\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{0}J=\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{1}{J}^{\ensuremath{'}}=0$ laser exhibiting no pump-induced gain anisotropy and allowing for linearly polarized (LP) solutions with arbitrary azimuth and circularly polarized (CP) solutions, depending on the values of the molecular relaxation rates. Above the instability threshold, a variety of dynamic regimes involving the polarization degree of freedom can be found, including LP states with rotating azimuth (as in incoherently pumped $J=\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{0}{J}^{\ensuremath{'}}=1$ or $J=\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{1}{J}^{\ensuremath{'}}=0$ lasers), antiphase dynamics, and full polarization chaos.