Abstract

We report on cw experiments showing Raman laser to be intrinsically dynamically unstable even for basic operating condition of single mode and homogeneous gain. The prevalence of such behaviour down to the onset of lasing emission and for both good and bad cavities merit special attention as unique generic feature of this system. These findings provide the basis for comparison with our earlier theory of this system in which we established a key mathematical similarity of the Raman laser with the simple Haken-Lorenz model.^[1-2] Notably the physically distinct mechanism, involving a two photon interaction, was shown to allow for considerably relaxed operating conditions for the emergence of dynamical instabilities, compared to those for the two level laser. As such this system provides excellent opportunity for quantitative tests of nonlinear dynamics both through its simple and essentially familiar mathematical description and operating conditions which are within easy access of experiments.

© 1992 IQEC