Abstract

Bistability is a problem of considerable interest in many fields of physics.¹ The problem generally involves mode competition through nonlinear dynamics, quantum and classical fluctuations, and probability of "tunneling" from one metastable state to another.^2-4 When the modemode coupling is an adjustable parameter as in the case of recent experiments involving a free running broad band, standing-wave cw dye laser,⁵ the transition from a many-mode to a two-mode operation has the characteristic of a thermodynamic phase transition at a certain critical point.⁴

© 1985 Optical Society of America