Origin of periodic, chaotic, and bistable emission from Raman lasers

Single mode homogeneously broadened Raman laser emission is shown to be mathematically reducible to a simple description similar to that of the Haken-Lorenz model. However, the physically distinct lasing mechanism involving a two-photon interaction with an equivalent two-level system in a noninverted state allows for considerably relaxed operating conditions where periodic, chaotic, and bistable behavior are identified. Results are in good accord with earlier experiments.