Physics and Applications of Laser Diode Chaos

An overview of chaos in laser diodes is provided which surveys experimental achievements in the area and explains the theory behind the phenomenon. The fundamental physics underpinning this behaviour and also the opportunities for harnessing laser diode chaos for potential applications are discussed. The availability and ease of operation of laser diodes, in a wide range of configurations, make them a convenient test-bed for exploring basic aspects of nonlinear and chaotic dynamics. It also makes them attractive for practical tasks, such as chaos-based secure communications and random number generation. Avenues for future research and development of chaotic laser diodes are also identified.Comment: Published in Nature Photonic

Delay-induced deterministic resonance of chaotic dynamics

We show that time-delayed feedback can induce an optimal regularity in the pulsating dynamics of a nonlinear system without the need for an additional noise source. This deterministic delay-induced coherence resonance is reported experimentally in the chaotic dynamics of a laser diode subject to a phase-conjugate optical feedback, when varying the amount of feedback light. Qualitatively similar resonance is found theoretically in the model of a time-delayed class-A laser. The resonance is therefore not related to an interplay between time-delayed dynamics and faster undamped relaxation oscillations and is thought to be generic for a large class of delayed nonlinear systems

Optical resonators: chaos aids energy storage

International audienceDeformed optical resonators that support chaotically propagating modes have been shown to store more light energy than conventional cavities