Complex photonics: Dynamics and applications of delay-coupled semiconductors lasers

Soriano, Miguel C.; García‐Ojalvo, Jordi; Mirasso, Claudio R.; Fischer, Ingo

doi:10.1103/revmodphys.85.421

Cited by 513 publications

(338 citation statements)

References 360 publications

(385 reference statements)

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“…Semiconductor lasers are known to exhibit a variety of different dynamics. This becomes apparent especially under external perturbations, e.g., of the pump current or by an external light field [TAR95a,WIE05], as well as under optical feedback [HEI01a,SOR13,OTT14]. Here, lasers can exhibit periodic oscillations, multi-stability [GAV97], and deterministic chaos [TAR98a,OHT99].…”

Section: Dt S(t) = 2g(n (T) − N 0 )S(t) − 2κs(t) (12b)mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nonlinear and Nonequilibrium Dynamics of Quantum-Dot Optoelectronic Devices

Lingnau

2015

Springer Theses

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In this thesis the dynamics and performance of optoelectronic devices based on semiconductor quantum-dots are investigated.In the first part, the dynamics of quantum-dot lasers under external perturbations is discussed. Using a microscopically based balance equation model that incorporates detailed charge-carrier scattering dynamics and the possibility to describe nonequilibrium between intra-band electronic states, the relaxation oscillations of the quantum-dot laser are investigated. Three qualitatively different dynamic regimes are identified in dependence of the scattering rates -the "constantreservoir" regime for slow scattering, the "overdamped" regime, and the "synchronized" regime for high scattering -characterized by a varying degree of nonequilibrium between the quantum-dot and reservoir states.Important differences to conventional lasers are found in the modulation response and the dynamics in optical injection and feedback setups. Common theoretical models and approaches used to describe these applications are shown to yield inaccurate predictions, especially in the "constant-reservoir" and "overdamped" dynamic regimes. An important consequence is that the amplitude-phase coupling in quantum-dot lasers, commonly described by the α-factor, differs from conventional descriptions due to the desynchronization of gain and refractive index. While the α-factor describes bifurcations of fixed points accurately, it fails in describing dynamic solutions and overestimates the extent of complex dynamics. The observed low sensitivity to optical perturbations in quantum-dot lasers can therefore be attributed partly to the charge-carrier nonequilibrium. Three quantum-dot laser models on different levels of sophistication are presented that can accurately describe the quantum-dot nonequilibrium dynamics.In the second part of the thesis, the performance of quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifiers is investigated, and two types of applications unique to quantum-dots as active medium are discussed. The ground and excited states of the quantum-dots allow an ultra-broad-band amplification of optical data streams. Amplified signals on the ground-state frequencies are shown to generally exhibit higher quality than on the excited state, due to a lower sensitivity of the groundstate to carrier-density variations. Nevertheless the quantum-dot amplifier is found to allow effective amplification on both frequency ranges. Furthermore, a parameter range is identified that allows for a simultaneous amplification of data signals on the ground and excited state in a counter-propagating setup.The long microscopically polarization dephasing times in quantum-dots are found to enable quantum-coherent interactions on a macroscopic scale at room-temperature. By comparison with experiments, the occurrence of Rabi-oscillations by amplification of ultra-short pulses is demonstrated. Quantum-dot based devices could therefore be used for future applications based on quantum-coherent effects.

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Section: Dt S(t) = 2g(n (T) − N 0 )S(t) − 2κs(t) (12b)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Apart from providing a reliable source of constant, coherent, monochromatic light, semiconductor lasers can exhibit a vast variety of different dynamics [LAR10,ERN10b,LUE11b,SOR13]. The simplest model of a semiconductor laser consists of only two equations:…”

Section: Semiconductor Lasers As Dynamical Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonlinear and Nonequilibrium Dynamics of Quantum-Dot Optoelectronic Devices

Lingnau

2015

Springer Theses

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“…We argue that the harmonic state is an intrinsic regime of all QCLs. The fact that it has only been observed 15 years after the invention of the cw QCL is a testament to the destabilizing influence of optical feedback [36].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Single-mode instability in standing-wave lasers: The quantum cascade laser as a self-pumped parametric oscillator

et al. 2016

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We report the observation of a clear single-mode instability threshold in continuous-wave Fabry-Perot quantum cascade lasers (QCLs). The instability is characterized by the appearance of sidebands separated by tens of free spectral ranges (FSR) from the first lasing mode, at a pump current not much higher than the lasing threshold. As the current is increased, higher-order sidebands appear that preserve the initial spacing, and the spectra are suggestive of harmonically phase-locked waveforms. We present a theory of the instability that applies to all homogeneously broadened standing-wave lasers. The low instability threshold and the large sideband spacing can be explained by the combination of an unclamped, incoherent Lorentzian gain due to the population grating, and a coherent parametric gain caused by temporal population pulsations that changes the spectral gain line shape. The parametric term suppresses the gain of sidebands whose separation is much smaller than the reciprocal gain recovery time, while enhancing the gain of more distant sidebands. The large gain recovery frequency of the QCL compared to the FSR is essential to observe this parametric effect, which is responsible for the multiple-FSR sideband separation. We predict that by tuning the strength of the incoherent gain contribution, for example by engineering the modal overlap factors and the carrier diffusion, both amplitude-modulated (AM) or frequency-modulated emission can be achieved from QCLs. We provide initial evidence of an AM waveform emitted by a QCL with highly asymmetric facet reflectivities, thereby opening a promising route to ultrashort pulse generation in the mid-infrared. Together, the experiments and theory clarify a deep connection between parametric oscillation in optically pumped microresonators and the single-mode instability of lasers, tying together literature from the last 60 years.

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“…First as a laboratory tool to explore nonlinear dynamics of systems with time delay [1], and second for their potential to drive applications based on chaos [2]. Such feedbacks can be achieved, for example, from an external mirror [3][4][5], from an optoelectronic feedback [6][7][8], from polarization-rotated optical feedback [9][10][11][12][13], or from phase-conjugate feedback (PCF) [14][15][16][17][18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Laser diode nonlinear dynamics from a filtered phase-conjugate optical feedback

et al. 2015

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The rate equations for a laser diode subject to a filtered phase-conjugate optical feedback are studied both analytically and numerically. We determine the Hopf bifurcation conditions, which we explore by using asymptotic methods. Numerical simulations of the laser rate equations indicate that different pulsating intensity regimes observed for a wide filter progressively disappear as the filter width increases. We explain this phenomenon by studying the coalescence of Hopf bifurcation points as the filter width increases. Specifically, we observe a restabilization of the steady-state solution for moderate width of the filter. Above a critical width, an isolated bubble of time-periodic intensity solutions bounded by two successive Hopf bifurcation points appears in the bifurcation diagram. In the limit of a narrow filter, we then demonstrate that only two Hopf bifurcations from a stable steady state are possible. These two Hopf bifurcations are the Hopf bifurcations of a laser subject to an injected signal and for zero detuning.

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Complex photonics: Dynamics and applications of delay-coupled semiconductors lasers

Cited by 513 publications

References 360 publications

Nonlinear and Nonequilibrium Dynamics of Quantum-Dot Optoelectronic Devices

Nonlinear and Nonequilibrium Dynamics of Quantum-Dot Optoelectronic Devices

Single-mode instability in standing-wave lasers: The quantum cascade laser as a self-pumped parametric oscillator

Laser diode nonlinear dynamics from a filtered phase-conjugate optical feedback

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