Abstract

The nonstationary behaviour of polarization parameters without any time-dependent external influence (polarization instability) has been observed experimentally in single-mode He-Ne [1,2] and He-Xe [2] lasers at j₁ = 1→j₂ = 2 and j₁ = 3→ j₂ = 2 transitions in presence of linear phase anisotropy in the cavity as well as in He-Ne laser at j₁ = 1→j₂ = 1 transition and circular phase anisotropy of the cavity [3]. This phenomenon experimentally manifests itself in two types of transitions between the steady orthogonally polarized waves in the vicinity of the line center tuning (through polarization instability and through bistability) [1,3] and in periodic oscillations of orthogonal components of laser output in form of distorted sinusoids and large spikes [2].

© 1996 IEEE