This article is cited in 2 papers

Laser applications and other topics in quantum electronics

Non-Poisson photon statistics in an n-level (n = 2–4) laser above the threshold

A. V. Kozlovskii, A. N. Oraevsky

P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow

Abstract: A quantitative analysis is made of quantum fluctuations in the number of photons in the resonator of a single-mode laser considered in a quasi-linear approximation. An expression is obtained for a general four-level system, which is exact above the lasing threshold, but can also be used to calculate the fluctuations in the case of three- and two-level lasers. Above the threshold when certain relationships between the spontaneous decay constants are satisfied, the photon statistics are of the sub-Poisson type in four- and three-level systems. However, for other relationships between the decay constants, pumping rate, and average number of photons, fluctuations in the resonator obey both the Poisson and super-Poisson statistics with variances much greater than the average number of photons. Both Poisson and super-Poisson statistics with large values of the variance are found for a two-level system. The results of calculations indicate that, in general, there is no coherent Glauber state of the field in a laser resonator when the threshold is significantly exceeded.

PACS: 42.50.Lc, 42.50.Dv, 42.55.-f

Received: 25.05.1993

 English version: Quantum Electronics, 1994, 24:3, 255–260

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