Two-frequency gas laser in mutually orthogonal transverse magnetic fields

Experimental and theoretical investigations were made of the characteristics of the radiation emitted by a two-frequency helium–neon laser when mutually orthogonal transverse magnetic fields were applied to its active medium. It was found that the dichroism and birefringence of the active medium were minimized when the magnetic field strengths were equal. As a result, a stable two-frequency lasing regime was realized in which the waves were of similar intensities and had quite a low beat frequency which was stable in the presence of changes in the resonator length, in the pump intensity, and in the magnetic field strengths. An analysis was made of the energy and frequency characteristics of the laser as a function of the amplitude and phase anisotropies of the resonator, magnetoplasma effects, and the isotopic composition and pressure of the active mixture.