title: Observation of Kastler ring emission from a short-cavity laser.
abstract: Conical ring emission from a short-cavity dye laser has been observed and modeled as Kastler rings, that is, the high-angle emission modes of a plano-plano (Fabry-Perot) laser cavity in agreement with the predictions made 31 years ago by Kastler [Appl. Opt. 1, 17 (1962)]. The excitation of the discrete rings is due to a transfer of energy from the axial modes rather than to spontaneous emission. The mechanism for energy transfer is argued to be scattering of light from imperfections on the mirror surfaces.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hodges
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gadomski
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Raymer