Optical bistability in the oscillation of an inhomogeneously broadened quasi-three-level laser

摘要

A theoretical modeling analysis is presented to study the optical bistability exhibited in the oscillation of an inhomogeneously broadened quasi-three-level laser. All the major characteristics of optical bistability depend on two normalized parameters, f and x_a, which are defined by f = I_(sat),a/I_(sat),m and x_a = 2α _a0p_a/δ and are related to measurable properties of the laser medium. In comparison with the case of a homogeneously broadened laser, the essential condition for the occurrence of such bistability, f < x_a/(x_a + 1), turns out to be the same, whereas the intensities at the up- and down-thresholds are substantially increased and the bistability range is reduced.