Dynamical properties of lasers coupled face to face

Passively mode-locked high-frequency dual-VCSEL system

Two VCSELs placed facing each other with one biased chip while the second chip is unbiased is shown as a promising alternative to the popularly used conventional SESAM mode-locked VECSEL to generate mode-locked pulses. We propose a theoretical model using time-delay differential rate equations and numerically show that the proposed dual-laser configuration functions as a typical gain-absorber system. Parameter space defined by laser facet reflectivities and current are used to show general trends in the exhibited nonlinear dynamics and pulsed solutions.

Stabilizing nanolasers via polarization lifetime tuning

We investigate the emission dynamics of mutually coupled nanolasers and predict ways to optimize their stability, i.e., maximize their locking range. We find that tuning the cavity lifetime to the same order of magnitude as the dephasing time of the microscopic polarization yields optimal operation conditions, which allow for wider tuning ranges than usually observed in conventional semiconductor lasers. The lasers are modeled by Maxwell-Bloch type class-C equations. For our analysis, we analytically determine the steady state solutions, analyze the symmetries of the system and numerically characterize the emission dynamics via the underlying bifurcation structure. The polarization lifetime is found to be a crucial parameter, which impacts the observed dynamics in the parameter space spanned by frequency detuning, coupling strength and coupling phase.

Influence of Two-Frequency Radiation Intensity Fluctuations on the Output Signal of a Vortex Optical Fiber Forming OAM Address in Polyharmonic Sensor Technology

A schematic diagram of a RoF radio-optic system with vortex signals is presented, in which the radio frequency is determined by the difference between the wavelengths of two lasers. It is assumed that the generation of a vortex signal can be performed through a vortex fiber-optic periodic structure, which can be obtained using a technology similar to the manufacture of long-period fiber Bragg gratings. The parameters of the grating are modeled assuming that the fundamental light-guide mode (LP01) is applied to the specified vortex element, and the higher-order mode (LP11) is reflected. It was found that the distortion of the vortex signal can be reduced by introducing apodization and chirping of this periodic structure. The following optimal parameters have been estimated: the apodization and chirp multiplier functions, at which the distortions of the amplitude and phase of the vortex signal, as well as the appearance of an unwanted angle distortion, will be minimal. It is shown that such gratings can be exploited in addressed sensors systems using the orbital angular momentum (OAM) of a lightwave as a unique sensor address.

Mutual coupling and synchronization of optically coupled quantum-dot micropillar lasers at ultra-low light levels

Synchronization of coupled oscillators at the transition between classical physics and quantum physics has become an emerging research topic at the crossroads of nonlinear dynamics and nanophotonics. We study this unexplored field by using quantum dot microlasers as optical oscillators. Operating in the regime of cavity quantum electrodynamics (cQED) with an intracavity photon number on the order of 10 and output powers in the 100 nW range, these devices have high β-factors associated with enhanced spontaneous emission noise. We identify synchronization of mutually coupled microlasers via frequency locking associated with a sub-gigahertz locking range. A theoretical analysis of the coupling behavior reveals striking differences from optical synchronization in the classical domain with negligible spontaneous emission noise. Beyond that, additional self-feedback leads to zero-lag synchronization of coupled microlasers at ultra-low light levels. Our work has high potential to pave the way for future experiments in the quantum regime of synchronization.

Bistability in two simple symmetrically coupled oscillators with symmetry-broken amplitude- and phase-locking

In the model system of two instantaneously and symmetrically coupled identical Stuart-Landau oscillators, we demonstrate that there exist stable solutions with symmetry-broken amplitude- and phase-locking. These states are characterized by a non-trivial fixed phase or amplitude relationship between both oscillators, while simultaneously maintaining perfectly harmonic oscillations of the same frequency. While some of the surrounding bifurcations have been previously described, we present the first detailed analytical and numerical description of these states and present analytically and numerically how they are embedded in the bifurcation structure of the system, arising both from the in-phase and the anti-phase solutions, as well as through a saddle-node bifurcation. The dependence of both the amplitude and the phase on parameters can be expressed explicitly with analytic formulas. As opposed to the previous reports, we find that these symmetry-broken states are stable, which can even be shown analytically. As an example of symmetry-breaking solutions in a simple and symmetric system, these states have potential applications as bistable states for switches in a wide array of coupled oscillatory systems.

Anapole nanolasers for mode-locking and ultrafast pulse generation

Nanophotonics is a rapidly developing field of research with many suggestions for a design of nanoantennas, sensors and miniature metadevices. Despite many proposals for passive nanophotonic devices, the efficient coupling of light to nanoscale optical structures remains a major challenge. In this article, we propose a nanoscale laser based on a tightly confined anapole mode. By harnessing the non-radiating nature of the anapole state, we show how to engineer nanolasers based on InGaAs nanodisks as on-chip sources with unique optical properties. Leveraging on the near-field character of anapole modes, we demonstrate a spontaneously polarized nanolaser able to couple light into waveguide channels with four orders of magnitude intensity than classical nanolasers, as well as the generation of ultrafast (of 100 fs) pulses via spontaneous mode locking of several anapoles. Anapole nanolasers offer an attractive platform for monolithically integrated, silicon photonics sources for advanced and efficient nanoscale circuitry.

Topological solitons as addressable phase bits in a driven laser

Optical localized states are usually defined as self-localized bistable packets of light, which exist as independently controllable optical intensity pulses either in the longitudinal or transverse dimension of nonlinear optical systems. Here we demonstrate experimentally and analytically the existence of longitudinal localized states that exist fundamentally in the phase of laser light. These robust and versatile phase bits can be individually nucleated and canceled in an injection-locked semiconductor laser operated in a neuron-like excitable regime and submitted to delayed feedback. The demonstration of their control opens the way to their use as phase information units in next-generation coherent communication systems. We analyse our observations in terms of a generic model, which confirms the topological nature of the phase bits and discloses their formal but profound analogy with Sine-Gordon solitons.

Synchronization between two weakly coupled delay-line oscillators

We study theoretically the generation of a continuous-wave signal by two weakly coupled delay-line oscillators. In such oscillators, the cavity length is longer than the wavelength of the signal. We show by using an analytical solution and comprehensive numerical simulations that in delay-line oscillators, the dynamics of the amplitude response cannot be neglected even when the coupling between the oscillators is weak. Therefore, weakly coupled delay-line oscillators cannot be accurately modeled by using coupled phase-oscillator models. In particular, we show that synchronization between the oscillators can be obtained in cases that are not allowed by coupled phase-oscillator models. We study the stability of the continuous-wave solutions. In delay-line oscillators, several cavity modes can potentially oscillate. To ensure stability, the bandwidth of the delay-line oscillator should be limited. We show that the weakly coupled delay-line oscillator model that is described in this paper can be used to accurately model the synchronization between two weakly coupled optoelectronic oscillators. A very good quantitative agreement is obtained between a comprehensive numerical model to study optoelectronic oscillators and the model results given in this paper.

Dynamics of two semiconductor lasers coupled by a passive resonator

The stability of two semiconductor lasers that are spatially separated by a passive resonator is analyzed using the composite-cavity mode approach. We study the nonlinear interactions of three composite-cavity modes and identify regions of in-phase and out-of-phase laser locking in the parameter plane of the transmission coefficients of the coupling mirrors and the laser length difference. Bifurcation analysis shows that the structure of the locking regions strongly depends on (i) the length of the passive resonator and (ii) the amount of amplitude-phase coupling of the laser field. Specifically, we find a single locking region when the passive resonator and the lasers have comparable lengths and up to three separate locking regions when the passive resonator is much shorter than the lasers. Furthermore, we use the recently developed 0-1 test for chaos to uncover intricate regions of chaotic dynamics that shrink in size and eventually disappear as the passive resonator length becomes comparable to the laser length.

Impact of light polarization on chaos synchronization of mutually coupled VCSELs

We demonstrate that dynamical polarization switching in mutually coupled vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) has a profound impact on the chaotic dynamics in the system drastically improving the in-phase (anti-phase) synchronization between the modes of the two VCSELs with the same (orthogonal) polarizations. Furthermore, an exchange of the leader-laggard role is observed with the higher (lower) frequency VCSEL being the leader for lower (higher) coupling strength.

Synchronization properties of three delay-coupled semiconductor lasers

We present detailed numerical studies of the dynamics of three semiconductor lasers when interacting in a linear chain through the mutual injection of their optical fields. In particular, we focus on the synchronization properties of the coupling-induced dynamics and the role of the delay in the interaction between the lasers. The recently experimentally and numerically demonstrated zero-lag synchronization [Fischer, Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 123902 (2006)] between the outer lasers in the chain is here further analyzed in detail along with a study of the robustness of this phenomenon. In addition, the propagation properties of perturbing pulses and of harmonic modulation are discussed.

Synchronization properties of bidirectionally coupled semiconductor lasers under asymmetric operating conditions

We study, both experimentally and numerically, a system of two coupled semiconductor lasers in an asymmetric configuration. A laser subject to optical feedback is bidirectionally coupled to a free running laser. While maintaining the coupling strength, we change the feedback rate and observe a transition from highly correlated low-frequency fluctuations to episodic synchronization between dropouts and jump-ups. Our results resemble those obtained recently in a unidirectionally coupled system [Buldú, Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 024102 (2006)].

Public-channel cryptography based on mutual chaos pass filters

We study the mutual coupling of chaotic lasers and observe both experimentally and in numeric simulations that there exists a regime of parameters for which two mutually coupled chaotic lasers establish isochronal synchronization, while a third laser coupled unidirectionally to one of the pair does not synchronize. We then propose a cryptographic scheme, based on the advantage of mutual coupling over unidirectional coupling, where all the parameters of the system are public knowledge. We numerically demonstrate that in such a scheme the two communicating lasers can add a message signal (compressed binary message) to the transmitted coupling signal and recover the message in both directions with high fidelity by using a mutual chaos pass filter procedure. An attacker, however, fails to recover an errorless message even if he amplifies the coupling signal.

Synchronization properties of two self-oscillating semiconductor lasers subject to delayed optoelectronic mutual coupling

We theoretically investigate the nonlinear dynamics and synchronization properties between two mutually coupled semiconductor lasers units. Each unit can self-oscillate by means of delayed optoelectronic feedback loops. The mutual optoelectronic interactions between the laser units take into account the finite propagation time of the signals. Under perfectly symmetric conditions, we find different "death by delay" islands that persist for instantaneous coupling. The appearance of (zero lag) isochronous chaotic synchronization, under appropriate driving conditions, is another distinctive feature of the delayed feedback loops in the laser units. For slightly asymmetric operation, we obtain frequency locked bands (Arnold Tongue) whose width periodically changes with the coupling delay time.

Dynamics of an array of mutually coupled semiconductor lasers

We consider the dynamics of a linear array of coupled semiconductor lasers. Particular attention is paid to the synchronous states, which are caused by the permutation of two outer lasers. A system of three coupled lasers is studied in more details. We report different types of multistability of synchronous and asynchronous states including chaotic ones. We identify parameter values, for which a synchronous chaos can occur. Moreover, we show that transition to the synchronization occurs via blowup of the synchronous transversely unstable invariant set within the synchronization manifold. Finally, we present numerical analysis of larger arrays of coupled lasers and note some common qualitative features of the synchronization regions, which are independent of the number of lasers.

Burst synchronization in two thin-slice solid-state lasers incoherently coupled face to face

We studied the dynamic behavior of laser-diode-pumped nonidentical thin-slice solid-state lasers, coupled face to face, with orthogonally polarized emissions. When such an incoherent mutual optical coupling was introduced, the coupled lasers exhibited slow fluctuations of transverse-mode patterns, and isolated lasers exhibited stable transverse-mode patterns. When one laser exhibited nonorthogonal multi-transverse-mode operations without coupling, simultaneous random bursts of chaotic relaxation oscillations took place in both lasers over time with coupling. A plausible physical interpretation is proposed in terms of the simultaneous excitation of chaotic relaxation oscillations in both lasers through resonances that stem from interference-induced modulation of one laser at a swept beat frequency of the fluctuating nonorthogonal mode pair. Observed instabilities were well reproduced by numerical simulation of the model equation.

Dynamics of semiconductor lasers with bidirectional optoelectronic coupling: stability, route to chaos, and entrainment

The dynamical behavior of two mutually coupled semiconductor lasers is studied. An optoelectronic coupling including a time delay in the propagation of the signals between the two lasers is considered. Starting from the appropriate rate equations for the photon and carrier densities, we investigate the stability of the fixed points and limit cycles of the system as a function of the coupling strength and the propagation time. From this analysis, a quasiperiodic route to chaos with boundary crisis events is identified as the responsible mechanism leading the system from regular to complex behavior. Several interesting phenomena are predicted for this system. Our analytical and numerical results are supported by experiments which are in good agreement with our predictions.

Dynamics of two mutually coupled semiconductor lasers: instantaneous coupling limit

We consider two semiconductor lasers coupled face to face under the assumption that the delay time of the injection is small. The model under consideration consists of two coupled rate equations, which approximate the coupled Lang-Kobayashi system as the delay becomes small. We perform a detailed study of the synchronized and antisynchronized solutions for the case of identical systems and compare results from two models: with the delay and with instantaneous coupling. The bifurcation analysis of systems with detuning reveals that self-pulsations appear via bifurcations of stationary (i.e., continuous wave) solutions. We discover the connection between stationary solutions in systems with detuning and synchronous (also antisynchronous) solutions of coupled identical systems. We also identify a codimension 2 bifurcation point as an organizing center for the emergence of chaotic behavior.