Multimode Competition in Lasers in the Light of Optical Feedback

Abstract

The modes of a laser resonator experience optical amplification in the same gain medium, e.g. a laser crystal, in which they spatially overlap to a significant extent. This leads to the phenomenon of mode competition or gain competition, which can be studied extensively using the optical feedback mechanism. This paper analyses the existence of two modes in a laser system in the near infra red (NIR) range. Emphasis has been laid on the position and wavelengths of the two modes. Histogram analysis of the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the modes mirrors remarkable upshots that have been elucidated in some detail.