Experimental classification of dynamical regimes in optically injected lasers

Area of Science:

• Laser Physics
• Nonlinear Dynamics
• Experimental Optics

Background:

• Optically injected lasers exhibit complex dynamics, including stable, unstable, and chaotic states.
• Characterizing these dynamical states is crucial for laser applications and understanding fundamental physics.
• Existing methods for state categorization can be time-consuming or lack experimental validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a reliable and rapid experimental technique for categorizing the dynamical states of optically injected lasers.
• To validate the technique for both single-mode and two-mode lasers.
• To compare experimental findings with theoretical predictions from dynamical models.

Main Methods:

• Experimental time-trace acquisition from optically injected single-mode and two-mode lasers.
• Analysis of time-traces to distinguish between locked, unlocked, and chaotic states.
• Varying injection strength and detuning parameters to map dynamical regimes.

Main Results:

• A robust experimental technique for laser dynamical state categorization was successfully developed.
• Experimental stability diagrams for two-mode lasers were generated, showing excellent agreement with theoretical predictions.
• The method was also applied to single-mode lasers, confirming strong agreement between experimental data and theoretical models.

Conclusions:

• The presented technique offers a fast and reliable approach to experimentally determine the dynamical state of optically injected lasers.
• The strong agreement between experimental results and theoretical models validates the accuracy and applicability of the developed method.
• This work provides a valuable tool for researchers studying laser dynamics and for the development of laser-based technologies.