Self-stabilization of the radiation intensity of a two-frequency gas laser

Abstract

An effect involving self-stabilization of the radiation intensity was studied theoretically and experimentally using the example of the 2S2–2P4 neon lasing transition in a helium–neon laser. This effect can reduce the influence of pump fluctuations and instability of the resonator Q factor on the output power of a two-frequency gas discharge laser by more than three orders of magnitude. The effect is due to the specific characteristics of the interwave interaction and may be observed both for one of the output waves and for a specific mixture of two-frequency radiation. An analysis is made of the influence of the external magnetic field parameters, anisotropy, resonator detuning and Q factor, and also of the isotopic composition, pressure, and rate of pumping of the active medium on the manifestation of the self-stabilization effect. The feasibility of achieving the self-stabilization effect for other lasing transitions and active media is discussed.