Dynamical Phenomena in an Optical-Wavelength Phonon Laser (Phaser): Nonlinear Resonances and Self-Organized Mode Alternation

TL;DR

This paper reviews early research on nonlinear spin-phonon dynamics in optical-wavelength phonon lasers, highlighting experimental discovery of self-organized mode alternation phenomena at ultra-low frequencies in a ruby phaser.

Contribution

It presents the first experimental observation and qualitative analysis of self-organized mode alternation in a ruby phaser under low-frequency modulation.

Findings

Discovered self-organized periodic alternation of phonon modes at 0.1 Hz to 0.001 Hz.

Used novel optical-wavelength microwave-frequency acoustic detection techniques.

Provided qualitative analysis of nonlinear resonances in spin-phonon systems.

Abstract

This is a part of an overview of my early studies on nonlinear spin-phonon dynamics in solid state optical-wavelength phonon lasers (phasers) started in 1984. The main goal of this work is a short description and a qualitative analysis of experimental data on low-frequency nonlinear resonances revealed in a nonautonomous ruby phaser. Under phaser pumping modulation near these resonances, an unusual kind of self-organized motions in the ruby spin-phonon system was observed by me in 1984 for the first time. The original technique of optical-wavelength microwave-frequency acoustic stimulated emission (SE) detection and microwave-frequency power spectra (MFPS) analysis was used in these experiments (description of the technique see: D.N.Makovetskii, Cand. Sci. Diss., Kharkov, 1983). The real time evolution of MFPS was studied using this technique at scales up to several hours. The phenomenon of the self-organized periodic alternation of SE phonon modes was experimentally revealed at hyperlow frequencies from about 0.1 Hz to 0.001 Hz and less (for the phaser pumping modulation at approximately 10 Hz). The nature of this phenomenon was investigated by me later in details (see: arXiv:cond-mat/0303188v1 ; arXiv:cond-mat/0410460v1 ; Tech. Phys. Letters, 2001, Vol.27, No.6, P.511-514 ; Tech. Phys., 2004, Vol.49, No.2, P.224-231).