Abstract
The spatial representation of the generalized potentials associated with the two eigenstates of a quasi-isotropic laser, in the frame of the Landau theory, predicts two different types of first-order phase transitions. The different dynamics of the corresponding vectorial bistabilities are confirmed by an experiment with a laser with two oscillating nondegenerate eigenstates. Polarization instabilities predicted in the first type of transition are experimentally shown.
- Received 22 August 1983
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.52.918
©1984 American Physical Society