Optical transient nutation in frequency-modulated cw laser beams in resonant self-action conditions

On the basis of numerical simulations an optical transient nutation is investigated. This effect is developed on high modulation amplitude of frequency-modulated cw laser beam propagating in resonance conditions. At modulation periods comparable with the atomic relaxation times the time dependence of the output intensity exhibits the combined manifestations of optical nutation and resonance self-action.