Quantum Statistical Dynamics of Laser Amplifiers

A quantum statistical procedure for studying interacting radiation fields is developed and applied to a model laser operating as a linear amplifier. The method utilizes an expansion of the density matrix in terms of a complete set of orthogonal operators originally used by Weyl. One mode of the laser field is considered to interact with a pumping mechanism and with a loss mechanism. A general solution for the density matrix is obtained and then applied to various initial conditions. It is found that a classical statistical interpretation of the results is frequently appropriate.