Delay effects in a system formed by a bistable thin film and a mirror

A theoretical investigation is made of the dynamics of the interaction of light with a bistable system formed by a thin film and a feedback mirror. The dependence of the dynamics on the ratio of the relaxation time of a two-level medium to the delay associated with the transmission of light from the film to the mirror and back again is determined. The reasons and conditions for the appearance of regular pulsations and of more complex dynamics are found.