Self-similarities in the frequency-amplitude space of a loss-modulated CO${}_2$ laser

Abstract

We show the standard two-level continuous-time model of loss-modulated CO${}_2$ lasers to display the same regular network of self-similar stability islands known so far to be typically present only in discrete-time models based on mappings. For class B laser models our results suggest that, more than just convenient surrogates, discrete mappings in fact could be isomorphic to continuous flows.

(5 low-res color figs; for ALL figures high-res PDF: http://www.if.ufrgs.br/~jgallas/jg_papers.html)