Multiclustered chimeras in large semiconductor laser arrays with nonlocal interactions

Abstract

The dynamics of a large array of coupled semiconductor lasers is studied numerically for a nonlocal coupling scheme. Our focus is on chimera states, a self-organized spatiotemporal pattern of coexisting coherence and incoherence. In laser systems, such states have been previously found for global and nearest-neighbor coupling, mainly in small networks. The technological advantage of large arrays has motivated us to study a system of 200 nonlocally coupled lasers with respect to the emerging collective dynamics. Moreover, the nonlocal nature of the coupling allows us to obtain robust chimera states with multiple (in)coherent domains. The crucial parameters are the coupling strength, the coupling phase and the range of the nonlocal interaction. We find that multiclustered chimera states exist in a wide region of the parameter space and we provide quantitative characterization for the obtained spatiotemporal patterns. By proposing two different experimental setups for the realization of the nonlocal coupling scheme, we are confident that our results can be confirmed in the laboratory.

Controlled generation of chimera states in SQUID metasurfaces using DC flux gradients

“…It should be noted that there are also other measures that could be employed such as, e.g., a measure based on the local curvature of a given state [32]. This measure has been proved particularly useful whenever turbulent chimeras appear, e.g., in semiconductor laser arrays [33,34].…”

Machine Learning With Observers Predicts Complex Spatiotemporal Behavior

“…Following the first discovery of chimeras for symmetrically coupled Kuramoto identical oscillators in 2002 (17), this counterintuitive symmetry breaking of partially coherent and partially incoherent behavior has received enormous attention. Many recent theoretical works have focused on the study of chimera states in a variety of physical systems such as superconducting metamaterials (18,19,20) quantum systems (21), and laser arrays (22,23), to mention only a few. Chimeras have also been studied in models addressing neuron dynamics in hierarchical and modular networks (24,25).…”

“…Chimeras can be stationary or turbulent. Turbulent chimeras have been observed experimentally (34) and have been classified in numerical studies of large arrays of SQUIDs (Superconducting QUantum Interference Devices) and in arrays of lasers with various types of interactions (18)(19)(20)22), among other physical systems. Their actual trajectories are highly nonlinear and comprise an immense challenge to predicting their occurrence.…”

“…Shena et al [22] have used a spatial average with a window size of ζ = 3 elements (a Z j value close to unity indicates that the j-th laser belongs to the coherent regime,…”

Localized patterns in star networks of class-B lasers with optoelectronic feedback

“…In recent years, there have been many studies concerning semiconductor lasers and the analysis of synchronization and chimera states [5][6][7][8]. Here though, we focus on solid-state laser arrays and the formation of localized stationary patterns of activity.…”