Optimal ring lasers with coupled resonators and a homogeneously broadened active medium

A new method is proposed for calculating the characteristics of monochromatic emission from lasers with coupled resonators and a homogeneously broadened active medium. A description is given of the actual application of this method to the design of an optimal ring laser with a resonator containing a retroreflecting mirror. Two sets of the resonator parameters are found for the case of either minimal threshold pumping or maximal degree of suppression of the reverse wave; the relationships between these two sets of parameters are found. The results demonstrate that it is possible to realize the predicted optimal design of such a laser if the gain is sufficiently high and that this should be attainable in active homogeneously broadened media in the form of dyes and other organic compounds.