Competition between spectral components of a tunable laser accompanying biharmonic excitation of an acoustooptic deflector

An investigation was made of the laws governing the formation of a multifrequency emission spectrum of a laser electronically tuned by an acoustooptic deflector. A model was proposed (and verified) to take into account both the competition between the spectral components in the active medium and the redistribution of their energies (by two sound waves) caused by the absence of selection in the deflector. A mechanism was suggested to account for the substantial difference between the energy efficiencies of the main optical components of the laser and for an auxiliary component which appeared. This mechanism defined a distinctive three-frequency lasing regime. A study was made of the influence of the sound wave parameters on the spectral characteristics, which made it possible to establish several laser control algorithms.