Role of spatial inhomogeneity in intracavity laser spectroscopy

Kinetic equations are used to analyze the emission of two modes with different losses allowing for spatial inhomogeneity of the fields of these modes in a common active medium. It is found that spatial inhomogeneity results in saturation of the depth of the dip in the stimulated emission spectrum. Some characteristics of the temporal evolution of the stimulated emission are clarified by computer calculations. An analysis is made of the sensitivity of the method (depth of the dip in the stimulated emission spectrum) and of the time for establishment of steady-state laser action as a function of the pumping rate and degree of spatial inhomogeneity of the mode fields in the active medium.