  We describe the dynamical behavior of both class A and class B lasers in
terms of a Lyapunov potential. For class A lasers we use the potential to
analyze both deterministic and stochastic dynamics. In the stochastic case it
is found that the phase of the electric field drifts with time in the steady
state. For class B lasers, the potential obtained is valid in the absence of
noise. In this case, a general expression relating the period of the relaxation
oscillations to the potential is found. We have included in this expression the
terms corresponding to the gain saturation and the mean value of the
spontaneously emitted power, which were not considered previously. The validity
of this expression is also discussed and a semi-empirical relation giving the
period of the relaxation oscillations far from the stationary state is proposed
and checked against numerical simulations.
