Submicrosecond regular and chaotic nonlinear dynamics in a pulsed picosecond Nd:YAG laser with millisecond pumping

Area of Science:

• Nonlinear Optics
• Laser Physics
• Experimental Physics

Background:

• Laser systems can exhibit complex dynamics, including regular bursting.
• Controlling temporal characteristics of laser output is crucial for applications.
• Feedback mechanisms are key to manipulating laser behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and investigate a feedback-controlled laser system for generating regular bursts.
• To achieve controlled bursting with submicrosecond periods.
• To explore the influence of feedback loop timing and sensitivity on laser output.

Main Methods:

• Numerical and experimental studies of a feedback-controlled laser system.
• Implementation of delayed positive and negative feedback loops in a Nd:YAG laser.
• Utilizing an optoelectronic negative feedback unit with a Pockels cell polarizer.

Main Results:

• Successfully generated regular laser bursts (microgroups of picosecond pulses).
• Achieved controlled burst periods ranging from 25 to 75 cavity round trips.
• Observed chaotic dynamics at higher pumping levels, distinct from the Feigenbaum scenario.

Conclusions:

• The proposed feedback control strategy effectively generates regular laser bursts with tunable periods.
• The system demonstrates precise control over temporal laser dynamics.
• The observed chaotic dynamics suggest novel routes to chaos in feedback laser systems.