New frontiers for Maxwell's equations: Electromagnetic modeling of lasers as open resonators with active regions

摘要

Presented is a framework of the linear electromagnetic theory of lasers considered as open dielectric resonators with active regions. This approach is called the Lasing Eigenvalue Problem (LEP); it is specifically adapted to the extraction of the lasing mode material-gain thresholds in addition to the emission frequencies. The Poynting Theorem applied to the LEP solutions yields a useful expression linking the threshold gain value with mode's Q-factor and overlap coefficient between the modal electric field and the active region. The approach is illustrated with, modes of a two-disk laser where only one disk is active, and a kite-shape fully active laser.