Transverse-Pattern Formation for Counterpropagating Laser Beams in Rubidium Vapour

An instability is observed when the intensity of two counterpropagating beams nearly resonant with the 5S1/2 → 5P1/2 transition of rubidium exceeds a threshold value. The instability manifests itself as a coherent emission on the polarization orthogonal to that of the incident beam with various spatial structures, depending on laser intensity and frequency. Bifurcation diagrams for the intensity of this instability with the associated transverse-pattern evolution are presented.

[1]  Brambilla,et al.  Transverse laser patterns. I. Phase singularity crystals. , 1991, Physical review. A, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics.

[2]  Gibbs,et al.  Kaleidoscopic spatial instability: Bifurcations of optical transverse solitary waves. , 1991, Physical review letters.

[3]  Ahlers,et al.  Transitions between patterns in thermal convection. , 1991, Physical review letters.

[4]  Boyd,et al.  Polarization bistability of counterpropagating laser beams. , 1990, Physical review letters.

[5]  G. Mindlin,et al.  Spontaneous symmetry breaking in a laser: The experimental side. , 1990, Physical Review Letters.

[6]  Brambilla,et al.  Transverse laser patterns. II. Variational principle for pattern selection, spatial multistability, and laser hydrodynamics. , 1991, Physical review. A, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics.