Response of laser-localized structures to external perturbations in coupled semiconductor microcavities

Abstract

Laser-localized structures have been observed in several experiments based on broad-area semiconductor lasers. They appear as bounded regions of laser light emission which can exist independently of each other and are expected to be commuted via external optical perturbations. In this work, we perform a statistical analysis of time-resolved commutation experiments in a system of coupled lasers and show the role of wavelength, polarization and pulse energy in the switching process. Furthermore, we also analyse the response of the system outside of the stability region of laserlocalized states in search of an excitable response. We observe not only a threshold separating two types of responses, but also a strong variability in the system's trajectory when returning to the initial stable fixed point.

Localized structures in dissipative media: from optics to plant ecology

“…In the case of two coupled VCSELs, Turconi et al [211] perform a statistical analysis of timeresolved commutation experiments and investigate the role of wavelength, polarization and pulse energy in the switching process. Vahed et al [212] investigate periodic and chaotic LSs in VCSEL with a saturable absorber.…”

“…A scheme based on delay feedback to control the self-mobility of such localized structures was proposed and studied theoretically. In the case of two coupled VCSELs, Turconi et al [211] perform a statistical analysis of time-resolved commutation experiments and investigate the role of wavelength, polarization and pulse energy in the switching process. Vahed et al [212] investigate periodic and chaotic localized structures in VCSEL with a saturable absorber.…”

Laser Solitons in 1D, 2D and 3D

“…Spatial and spatiotemporal solitons in lasers with saturable absorption predicted in [1] were subsequently intensively studied, both theoretically and experimentaly, due to their fundamental interest and potential applications [2]. Most impressive experiments with spatial laser soliton demonstrations were performed in vertical-cavity surface emitting semiconductor lasers (VCSELs) [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. For example, in VCSELs the following applications of such solitons have been experimentally demonstrated: optical memory [13], optical delay line [14], and optical microscopy [15].…”