We characterize the operation of semiconductor microring lasers in an
excitable regime. Our experiments reveal a statistical distribution of the
characteristics of noise-triggered optical pulses that is not observed in other
excitable systems. In particular, an inverse correlation exists between the
pulse amplitude and duration. Numerical simulations and an interpretation in an
asymptotic phase space confirm and explain these experimentally observed pulse
characteristics.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figure
