Nonlinear interaction of laser modes

The interaction of N atoms each with 3 levels at random lattice sites with a set of cavity modes is considered. The optical transition between the lowest two atomic levels is taken into account explicitely assuming a Lorentzian line shape, whereas the third level just serves for the pumping process. If homogeneous inversion of the atoms is assumed, only one coherent mode oscillates in the steady state. It is the one being closest to the atomic resonance and having highest Q. If, however, in the next approximation a mode-dependent depletion of the excited atomic states is taken into account, with increasing pumping rate several modes may oscillate simultaneously. The behaviour of two such modes is treated in detail and it is shown, that one obtains a stable configuration. Using a higher approximation the nonlinear interaction between these two modes brought about by the amplifying material is studied in detail. As a special result one obtains a repulsion of the frequencies of the modes as a function of pumping power in accordance with gaslaser experiments. Quantum noise effects are neglected throughout the present paper.