Abstract

We analyze the complete set of partial differential equations describing the dynamics of a ring cavity laser with spherical mirrors and 2-D transverse dependence of both the field and the pump. Several optical vortices can arrange themselves in crystallized structures that rotate around the laser beam center. These solutions are temporally and spatially stable to perturbations. The mechanism of interaction between the rotating vortices is analyzed. In particular we find that the asymptotic position of the vortices is at the balancing of the repulsive force among vortices of the same charge and the drift force caused by the spatial dependence of the parameters of the equations. Such a force tends to confine the vortices at the center of the beam. Relevance of these new solutions to the onset of chaotic and, more generally, of defect mediated turbulence is discussed. The effects of transverse boundary conditions as well as signal injection on the nature and stability of the optical vortices are also studied.

© 1991 Optical Society of America