LAUSR

We identify the role of transverse modes in causing temporal instability in an all-solid-state laser system and thus propose a new method to trigger deterministic optical rogue waves. Experimental investigations show that the near-degenerate transverse modes with mode frequency difference close to the relaxation oscillation frequency is responsible for the rogue waves. By tilting the reflective mirror, the transverse modes beating frequency decreases and gets close to relaxation oscillation frequency, thus the system exhibits self-pulsing behavior and rarely-arising giant pulses. The statistical distribution of the pulse intensity deviates from the exponential statistics to the L-shaped distributions with long tails, indicating the appearance of optical rogue waves. The conclusion can be extended to other Class-B lasers where the population inversion cannot be eliminated adiabatically.