Optical Maser Oscillators and Noise

T h i s p a p e r represents an a t t e m p t to describe t h e optical maser or laser f r o m a microwave circuit point of view a n d is largely tutorial, since m a n y of t h e results o b t a i n e d f r o m a circuit viewpoint are already known. T h e generality of t h e method of a p p r o a c h enlarges their a r e a of validity, however. M a n y of t h e people working on optical masers who do not h a v e a background in microwave t h e o r y and techniques m a y find a fresh p o i n t of view. In particular, t h e y m a y find a very modest i n t r o d u c t i o n to an extremely well developed store of c o m p u t a t i o n a l techniques which are applicable to optical masers. This m a y save t h e m t h e trouble of inv e n t i n g their own. On t h e o t h e r hand, those who h a v e previously been working in t h e field of microwaves m a y find t h a t t h e analogies between optical masers a n d more conventional microwave devices are more cogent t h a n t h e y h a d appreciated. Finally, it is hoped t h a t some of t h e distinctions be507