Effects of intensity interactions (pump power depletion and sequential saturation of cascade generation) have been studied in a two-stage phosphosilicate Raman fiber laser in experiment and modeling. An analytical model of the laser which takes into account power variation along the fiber and spectral broadening of the first Stokes wave has been developed that describes experimental data both qualitatively and quantitatively. Good agreement between calculated acid experimental values of the thresholds, differential efficiency for the first and the second Stokes waves and saturation levels for the residual pump and the first Stokes wave powers is demonstrated. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.