Rl. Davidchack et al., Dynamical origin of low frequency fluctuations in external cavity semiconductor lasers, PHYS LETT A, 267(5-6), 2000, pp. 350-356
Low-frequency fluctuations (LLFs) in semiconductor lasers subject to time-d
elayed optical feedback from external reflectors have been experimentally o
bserved and theoretically studied for the past two decades. Yet recently a
question has come into focus: whether these fluctuations are only a transie
nt phenomenon. This Letter addresses this issue from the viewpoint of deter
ministic chaotic transitions. In particular, we investigate the single-mode
single-delay Lang-Kobayashi equations by constructing a scheme that allows
for a detailed bifurcation analysis and, consequently, an understanding of
the coexistence of LFFs and stable emission on the maximum gain mode, the
latter's being the subject of recent experiments [Phys. Rev. A 60 (1999) 63
4]. Our computations suggest that LFFs can be either transient or sustained
, depending on the dynamical interplay between the maximum gain mode and a
chaotic set. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.