Open AccessIntegrated semiconductor laser with optical feedback: transition from short to long cavity regime
Author(s) -
J. P. Toomey,
D. M. Kane,
Christopher McMahon,
Apostolos Argyris,
Dimitris Syvridis
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.23.018754
Subject(s) - oscillation (cell signaling) , semiconductor laser theory , optics , laser , pulse (music) , optical cavity , semiconductor , broadband , chaotic , relaxation (psychology) , materials science , physics , optoelectronics , psychology , social psychology , genetics , artificial intelligence , detector , computer science , biology
A 4-section semiconductor laser with integrated optical feedback has been shown experimentally to be capable of operating in either the short- or long-cavity regime, by controlling the device relaxation oscillation frequency relative to the external cavity frequency. Systematic increase of the laser injection current, and the resulting increase in relaxation oscillation frequency, allowed the transition between the two regimes of operation to be observed. The system displayed a gradual transition from a dynamic dominated by regular pulse packages in the short-cavity regime to one dominated by broadband chaotic output when operating in the long-cavity regime. This suggests that the "short cavity" regular pulse packages continue to co-exist with the "long cavity" broadband chaotic dynamic in the system studied. It is the relative power associated with each of these dynamics that changes. This may occur more generally in similar systems.