Two-parameter study of square-wave switching dynamics in orthogonally delay-coupled semiconductor lasers

Abstract

One contribution of 15 to a Theme Issue 'Dynamics, control and information in delay-coupled systems' . We perform a detailed numerical analysis of square-wave (SW) polarization switching in two semiconductor lasers with time-delayed, orthogonal mutual coupling. An in-depth mapping of the dynamics in the two-parameter plane coupling strength versus frequency detuning shows that stable SWs occur in narrow parameter regions that are localized close to the boundary of stability of the pure-mode solution. In this steady state, the two coupled lasers emit orthogonal polarizations. We also show that there are various types of SW forms and that stable switching does not need the inclusion of noise or nonlinear gain in the model. As these narrow regions of deterministic and stable SWs occur for quite different combinations of parameters, they could potentially explain the waveforms that have been observed experimentally. However, on the other hand, these regions are narrow enough to be in fact considered as experimentally unreachable. Therefore, our results indicate that further experimental statistical studies are needed in order to distinguish deterministic and stationary square waveforms from long transients because of noise.

All-optical controlled switching between time-periodic square waves in diode lasers with delayed feedback

“…When part of the light emitted by a semiconductor laser is reflected back into the laser after a substantial delay, a rich variety of pulsating outputs can be observed. Among the diverse setups studied experimentally, the laser subject to polarization rotated optical feedback (PROF) is particularly attractive [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. It has found a variety of applications stemming from alloptical production of high frequency pulses [11] and from its chaotic behavior for random bit generation [12].…”

Effects of Timing Noise on Square-Wave Optoelectronic Oscillators

“…NS OEOs may include optical and microwave frequency comb sources [17], OEOs who output signals consist of a select set of harmonics of the fundamental modulation frequency, of sources of pulse trains of specified shape. Square-wave (SW) generation by semiconductor-laser-based systems has been demonstrated, for example, in VCSELs [18][19][20][21], edge-emitters [22][23][24][25][26][27], semiconductor ring lasers (SRLs) [28,29], and quantum dot lasers [30]. In the above, SW generation is achieved without external modulation, but the square waveform results from the internal dynamics of the system.…”

Doublet structure in the optical spectrum of a semiconductor laser with optoelectronic feedback in a square-wave regime

“…11 SW generation by a variety of semiconductor LDs has also been studied in recent years concentrating mostly on the generation mechanism and temporal dynamics. 7,[15][16][17][18][19] SW dynamics in lasers with two polarization modes such as VCSEL, where the two intensity plateaus are related to polarization modes with different optical frequencies due to birefringence, is discussed in. 20,21 Otherwise, studies including optical spectra have been sparse.…”