The Ring Laser

The Ring Laser: The discussions above are limited to two- mirror standing-wave cavities. Some lasers operate naturally in a single longitudinal mode. For example, a ring laser cavity, (used in many dye and Ti:Sapphire lasers as well as in gyroscopic lasers) that has been constrained to oscillate in only one direction pro- duces a traveling wave without the fixed nodes of the standing-wave laser. The traveling wave sweeps through the laser gain, utilizing all of the available energy and preventing the buildup of adjacent modes. Other lasers are “homogeneously broadened” allowing vir- tually instantaneous transfer of energy from one portion of the gain curve to another.