title: Low-frequency dynamics of lasers.
abstract: An approach to nonlinear dynamics of multimode lasers is developed. It is based on the concept of two systems of eigenoscillations: optical modes and relaxation oscillations. The importance of a correct (not arbitrary) choice of a model is underlined. Characteristic features of two different rate equation models are formulated and compared. A method of selective perturbation on the system is described which makes it possible to study interrelations between optical modes and relaxation oscillations, and to control dynamical behavior of a laser. The possibility of using dynamical regularities for solving both applied and basic problems is illustrated in several examples. (c) 1996 American Institute of Physics.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia.
authors.forename: Ya. I.
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Khanin