Theoretical Problems in Cavity Nonlinear Optics

The scientific and technological importance of lasers has generated great interest in the field of cavity nonlinear optics. This book provides a thorough description of the field in terms of modern dynamical systems theory. Throughout, the emphasis is on deriving analytical results and highlighting their physical significance. The book stresses the connections between theoretical work and actual experimental results and will be of great interest to graduate students and researchers in theoretical physics, nonlinear optics, and laser physics.

Introduction; 1. Reduction of the Maxwell-Schrödinger equations; 2. Parameter swept across a steady bifurcation I; 3. Parameter swept across a steady bifurcation II; 4. Optical bistability: constant input; 5. Optical bistability: variable input; 6. Multimode optical bistability; 7. Free running multimode lasers; 8. Antiphase dynamics; 9. Laser stability; 10. Second harmonic generation; 11. Saturable absorbers; 12. Transverse effects in optical bistability.