Self-pulsing dynamics of an optically-pumped far infrared ring laser

Abstract

We report the self-pulsing dynamics of a CH/sub 3/OH 119 /spl mu/m ring laser pumped with the CO/sub 2/ 9 /spl mu/m P(36) line. Regular pulsation and period bifurcation were observed under uni-directional operation. When the ring cavity was tuned so as to emit bi-directional output, modulated self-pulsing was observed on both the forward and backward emission. The observed dynamics is analyzed by a model of an inhomogeneously broadened three-level system interacting with a pump as well as with counter-propagating far infrared fields.