Full polarization chaos in a pump-polarization modulated isotropic cavity laser

We study the dynamic behavior of an optically pumped [inline formula] laser operating with an isotropic ring cavity and a linearly polarized pump f ield whose direction of polarization is modulated by the sinusoidal law [inline formula]. Modulation frequencies V of the same order of magnitude as the transverse relaxation rate of the laser transition are considered here. At large enough modulation amplitudes, and for a detuned cavity, we obtain fully developed polarization chaos, which affects both the ellipticity and the orientation of the polarization ellipse as well as the laser intensity. © 1995, Optical Society of America.