MODELING OF OPTICAL SYNCHRONIZATION OF CHAOTIC EXTERNAL-CAVITY VCSELS

The performance of a master-slave configuration for effecting the sync hronization of chaotic vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSEL' s) is studied using numerical simulations. The dynamical evolution of optically coupled VCSEL's is examined using a traveling wave model whi ch is valid in the strong optical feedback regime, It is shown that th e proposed configuration is capable of effecting synchronization in a robust manner. The opportunity for exploiting synchronized chaos in se cure optical communication systems is indicated.