title: Reducing the effects of backscattering on the behavior of a ring laser.
abstract: Light scattered from one counterpropagating mode into the other can drastically modify the behavior of a ring laser. We point out that, within the domain of the third-order laser theory, the effect of backscattering on the fluctuation properties of the light can be reduced simply by increasing the cavity-loss rate, so long as the increased loss can be compensated for by increased pumping of the gain medium.
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Christian
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Gage
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mandel