Dynamical transverse laser patterns. II. Experiments

We analyze the simplest dynamical transverse patterns which appear in Na₂ and CO₂ lasers. The experimental values of the control parameters correspond closely to those considered in the theoretical study reported in the companion paper [Brambilla et al., preceding paper, Phys. Rev. A 49, 1427 (1994)]. We perform a systematic comparsion between theoretical predictions and experimental observations.