Polarization instabilities in a two-photon laser.
We describe the operating characteristics of a new type of quantum oscillator that is based on a two-photon stimulated emission process. This two-photon laser consists of spin-polarized and laser-driven 39K atoms placed in a high-finesse transverse-mode-degenerate optical resonator and produces a beam with a power of approximately 0.2 microW at a wavelength of 770 nm. We observe complex dynamical instabilities of the state of polarization of the two-photon laser, which are made possible by the atomic Zeeman degeneracy. We conjecture that the laser could emit polarization-entangled twin beams if this degeneracy is lifted.
Pfister
O
O
Department of Physics and Center for Nonlinear and Complex Systems, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0305, USA.
Brown
W J
WJ
Stenner
M D
MD
Gauthier
D J
DJ