Abstract

We discuss aspects of laser dynamics that are connected with transverse effects. We show that a laser capable of operating simultaneously in more than one transverse mode can develop temporal instabilities and pulsations similar to those which are known to occur in much higher gain conditions in the traditional plane-wave models. Over selected ranges of the parameters these lasers can also reach steady-state configurations in which several transverse modes develop synchronized oscillations (cooperative frequency locking). When both the radial and angular degrees of freedom of the cavity field and atomic parameters are taken into account, spontaneous symmetry breaking of the cylindrical symmetry can also be observed.

© 1988 Optical Society of America