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Published on: February 28, 2016
Symmetry breaking and dynamical independence in a multimode laser
1Institute for Laser Physics, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia.
Summary
Asymmetric multimode lasers exhibit complex behaviors like clustering and grouping. These phenomena arise from unstable cycles within dynamically independent invariant planes, explaining observed laser dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Optics
- Laser Physics
Background:
- Multimode lasers exhibit complex dynamics due to asymmetry between orthogonal polarization modes.
- Intracavity second harmonic generation (SHG) in solid-state lasers can lead to unique polarization-dependent behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the origins of dynamical independence, clustering, and grouping in a solid-state laser with intracavity SHG.
- To elucidate the role of unstable cycles and invariant planes in explaining these observed multimode laser behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of laser dynamics in a solid-state laser system incorporating intracavity second harmonic generation.
- Identification and characterization of unstable limit cycles and their associated invariant planes.
Main Results:
- Observed dynamical independence, clustering, and grouping effects in the multimode laser system.
- Demonstrated that these behaviors originate from unstable cycles residing within dynamically independent invariant planes.
- Showcased how itinerancy (sequential or random) of these unstable cycles explains the observed asymmetric effects.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals that asymmetric behaviors in multimode lasers are fundamentally linked to the properties of unstable cycles within invariant planes.
- Dynamical independence of these planes is a key factor enabling complex phenomena like clustering and grouping.
- Understanding these dynamics provides insight into controlling and predicting the behavior of solid-state lasers with intracavity nonlinearities.
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