Abstract

A wave-number domain information theoretical analysis proposed previously is applied to studying dynamical structures of chaotic multi-mode oscillations exhibited by homogeneously broadened Maxwell- Bloch (M-B) model. Most of radiation energy is concentrated at the gain center, but turbulent disturbances are generated in two off resonant wave- number regions we call Rabi chaotic bands, and they propagate toward other regions in the wave-number space. The analysis further reveals that there is a close interplay between the gain center and the Rabi bands, which yields a ‘chaotic itinerancy’ over the ruins of local chaotic attractors. This phenomenon results in self-induction of mode partition noise and mode hopping, which have been often observed in multi-mode laser oscillations.

© 1991 Optical Society of America