Abstract

A semiclassical theory of dye lasers is presented in which the relevant energy-level diagram of a dye molecule is assumed to consist of a bandlike ground state with many sublevels and an excited single state. This theory not only describes the single-frequency operation, which has a low instability threshold, but also describes the two-frequency and multifrequency steady states of operation and the transitions between the different steady states. The general solution of a multifrequency operation is given explicitly and differs essentially from the well-known Rabi oscillation. The theoretical predictions are in good agreement with recent experiments done by Hillman, et al., [ Phys. Rev. Lett. 52, 1605 ( 1984)], which cannot be explained by the conventional Maxwell–Bloch laser theory derived from two-level atoms.

© 1988 Optical Society of America

Spectral behavior and pulse train instabilities of a synchronously pumped mode-locked dye laser

D. L. MacFarlane, Lee W. Casperson, and A. A. Tovar
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 5(5) 1144-1152 (1988)

Steady-state and unstable behavior of a single-mode inhomogeneously broadened laser

N. B. Abraham, Luigi A. Lugiato, Paul Mandel, Lorenzo M. Narducci, and Donna K. Bandy
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 2(1) 35-46 (1985)

Frequency tristability of single-mode, standing-wave gas lasers containing a saturable absorber

John C. Englund
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 5(5) 1083-1088 (1988)

Periodic loss modulation in a ring laser: influence of inhomogeneous broadening and detuning

Paul Mandel, P. Nardone, and T. Erneux
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 5(5) 1113-1120 (1988)

Strong-field dynamics of a multimode, standing-wave dye laser

M. G. Raymer, Z. Deng, and M. Beck
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 5(8) 1588-1595 (1988)