Frequency dynamics of a bidirectional ring laser with a nonreciprocal resonator

A theoretical investigation is reported of the influence of a phase nonreciprocity of a resonator on the frequency kinetics of a ring laser with an inertial active medium under conditions of 1f switching of the emission direction. Numerical modeling is used to show that the difference between the frequencies of the counterpropagating waves assumes two different values, depending on which of the waves predominates at a given moment. These values are identical with the frequencies of relaxational oscillations specific to a given laser and they carry information on the phase nonreciprocity. The influence of the resonator detuning from the line center and of the coupling of the waves via scattering on the effects under consideration is also investigated.