Experimental observations of multi-mode dynamics in an external cavity semiconductor laser

We present experimental results of the dynamics in a semiconductor laser op erating on several longitudinal modes subject to external feedback. Both lo w-frequency fluctuations (LFFs) and locked states are studied through obser ving the outputs from the dominant mode, all modes except the dominant mode , and all modes. Synchronized dropout events of LFFs are observed among eac h of the solitary modes while energy competition and trading occurs among t hese modes when the total output exhibits the locked state.