Dynamics of a ring laser with diffusion of active centres

A dynamic theory of a bidirectional ring laser with a slow-response active medium is developed. This theory takes account of certain specific factors applicable to semiconductor and some solid-state active media, such as the diffusion of the light-emitting centres and nonisochronicity. These factors are shown to have a significant influence on the dynamic characteristics of a laser, because they change the conditions for a phase-sensitive interaction of counterpropagating waves in a population inversion grating induced by these waves. In particular, these factors give rise to a range where stable bidirectional lasing with equal wave intensities exists. They also complicate the dynamics of such a laser in the region of time-dependent processes.