Abstract

The equations of motion of a single-frequency homogeneously broadened bidirectional ring laser with optical backscattering have been investigated numerically by using Monte Carlo simulation. Studies of the coupled, third-order equations of motion, with additive and multiplicative noise terms, show that under some conditions of backscattering the laser has two regions of operation. When the magnitude of the backscattering coefficient, R, is less than a critical value, Rc, which depends on the pump parameter, the laser exhibits the usual noise-induced spontaneous intensity switching. When R is larger than Rc, the two modes exhibit steady-state anticorrelated oscillations. The simulations demonstrate that the relative phase of the two propagating waves can experience sudden phase jumps of in both switching and oscillation regions. Noise-induced transitions from one region to another can be observed when R is close to Rc.

© 1990 Optical Society of America