Theory of two-photon lasers I

We start from the microscopic Hamiltonian formulated by means of creation and annihilation operators for the field modes, and creation and annihilation operators for the electrons. The virtual transitions via the intermediate atomic level are eliminated by second order perturbation theory so that an effective Hamiltonian results which describes two-photon creation or annihilation. In the next step Heisenberg equations of motion are derived for the field amplitudes, the atomic dipole moments, and the inversion. The effect of heatbaths is taken into account by means of damping terms and fluctuating forces. In the present paper these equations are averaged over the fluctuating forces and the resulting semiclassical equations are solved for the stationary state. We treat the degenerate and nondegenerate case including detuning and atomic levels with homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening. The field modes may be either running or standing waves. A detailed discussion of the laser condition is given.