Mechanisms for multistability in a semiconductor laser with optical injection

We perform a detailed study of multistable behaviour in an optically inject ed semiconductor laser modeled by single-mode three-dimensional rate equati ons. It turns out that there is a wealth of regions of bi- and multistabili ty associated with bifurcations of periodic orbits - in the plane of inject ion strength and injection detuning. We follow such bifurcations over a wid e range of parameters, which reveals different mechanisms for multistabilit y in the system. In this way, we find, among others, the coexistence of two different periodic orbits with a chaotic attractor. Our results open new p ossibilities for optical switching between several different outputs of the laser. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.