Coupled Return Maps and the Problem of Two Coupled Unidirectional Single Mode Homogeneously Broadened Lasers

Abstract

The equivalence of the mean field model for a resonantly tuned single mode homogeneously broadened ring laser and the Lorenz equations was shown by Haken in 1975[1]. Unfortunately, the conditions for observing chaotic emission require the bad cavity limit in conjunction with a large gain. Recently it was suggested by Weiss that far infrared lasers, owing to their narrow linewidths and large gains, could serve as the experimental work horse for the observation and study of optical chaos in the Lorenz system[2]. These lasers however exhibit complicated intensity dependent gain structure and therefore may introduce strong intensity dependent sidebands and inhomogeneous broadening effects[2],[3]. A key to the problem lies in the ability to drop the threshold for chaos in order that lower pump powers could result in the necessary gain for the transition to chaotic output.