Properties of an Anisotropic Fabry–Perot Resonator

Abstract

Expressions are derived which describe the transmission characteristics of an active Fabry–Perot cavity containing doubly refracting and optically rotating media. It is shown that such a system is characterized by a spectrum of resonances whose intensities are independent of the anisotropic effects but whose center frequencies and polarizations are determined by these effects. Experimental observations of the output frequencies and polarizations of a gas laser utilizing an anisotropic cavity are also reported. In addition to confirming the predictions of our theoretical calculations, these observations have resulted in a determination of the Verdet constant of fused silica in the near infrared.