Laser with a transmitting window.

The effect of transmission of radiation through one mirror of a laser is investigated. For a laser oscillator the result is to change the effective resonance frequency and Q of the cavity. Using the same model for the cavity, a signal is injected into the active medium through the transmitting window, and its effect on the system studied. When the external signal is strong enough and sufficiently close to the natural frequency of the laser oscillator, the laser locks its frequency to the input signal. The equations describing the system are solved over the range of input frequencies where the laser is locked, and the resulting gain found. In the high-intensity limit the medium saturates, and the gain tends to that of a lossy cavity. As the input intensity vanishes, the gain approaches infinity and the system tends to a laser oscillator.