Hopf-Bifurkation bei Lasern

The semiclassical equations describing a ring laser show two successive bifurcations, one stationary and one Hopf bifurcation. This phenomenon is analyzed mathematically. The initial value problem for the laser equations and the stability of the stationary solutions are discussed in detail. The transition to ultrashort laser pulses is shown to be a Hopf bifurcation. The direction of the bifurcation is determined for a numerical example. It turns out that it depends on the parameters of the system.