Semiclassical Theory of a High-Intensity Laser

Abstract

This paper extends the calculations of the semiclassical Lamb theory of a Doppler-broadened gas laser (optical maser) to arbitrary intensities for the case of single-mode operation. The coupled equations of the classical electromagnetic field and an ensemble of two-level atoms are set up, and a solution is obtained in the form of a continued fraction. This is used to compute intensity-detuning curves and atomic population inversion densities as functions of both the velocity and the position in the laser. When the laser is tuned to resonance, the velocity dependence of the inversion density shows a previously unknown fine structure consisting of a "bump" in the bottom of the hole. The calculations are compared to results obtained from a perturbation expansion in powers of the field and exact results known for atoms with zero velocity. The response of the laser output to a slow modulation and the buildup of oscillations are also discussed.