Tricorn-like structures in an optically injected semiconductor laser

Area of Science:

• Nonlinear dynamics
• Semiconductor laser physics
• Optical systems

Background:

• Optically injected semiconductor lasers exhibit complex dynamics.
• Understanding parameter plane structures is crucial for laser control.
• Shi'lnikov bifurcations create tongue-like structures in dynamical systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the existence of tricorn-like structures in the parameter plane of an optically injected semiconductor laser model.
• To investigate the influence of the linewidth enhancement factor (α) on these structures.
• To explore the potential for optical switching applications.

Main Methods:

• Numerical analysis of a continuous-time dynamical system model for optically injected semiconductor lasers.
• Investigation of parameter plane bifurcations, specifically Shi'lnikov bifurcations.
• Analysis of the dynamics within the parameter plane, including injection field rate (K) and detuning (ω).

Main Results:

• Discovery of tricorn-like structures of stable periodic orbits within tongue-like structures.
• Observed invasion of the laser locking zone and period-1 orbit zone by these tongues as α increases.
• Demonstrated abundant multistability due to rich overlap dynamics in the parameter plane.
• Observed codimension-3 rotating phenomena of the tricorn structures.

Conclusions:

• The study provides numerical evidence for tricorn-like structures in semiconductor laser dynamics.
• These structures are linked to multistability and complex parameter plane overlaps.
• The findings motivate further mathematical and experimental investigation, with potential for optical switching applications.