Turn-on transient statistics and dynamics in a multimode, short-cavity laser

Area of Science:

• Laser Physics
• Quantum Optics
• Nonlinear Dynamics

Background:

• Understanding laser dynamics is crucial for applications.
• Short-cavity dye lasers exhibit complex multimode behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare experimental measurements of laser turn-on delay times with theoretical simulations.
• To investigate the influence of mode competition on laser dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Experimental measurements of turn-on delay statistics for longitudinal modes and total intensity.
• Numerical simulations based on a multimode theory of laser dynamics.

Main Results:

• Discrepancies observed between experimental data and theory for average and standard deviation of turn-on times.
• Transitory modes, affected by frequency-dependent losses/gains, explain these differences.
• A 'kink' in mode intensity evolution signifies a shift from independent mode growth to inter-mode competition.

Conclusions:

• Mode competition, particularly unequal competition, is a key factor influencing laser turn-on time statistics.
• The observed phenomena provide insights into the complex dynamics of multimode lasers.