Dynamical Behavior of Two Distant Mutually-Coupled Semiconductor Lasers

In this paper we present numerical and experimental investigations on the synchronization of the instabilities originated by the mutual coupling of two semiconductor lasers in face to face configuration. We have restricted ourselves to the analysis of two lasers with identical parameters and operati...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Mulet, Josep, Mirasso, Claudio R., Heil, Tilmann, Gunton, James D.
Format: article
Publication Date:2001
Country:España
Institution:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repository:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/48070
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/48070
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Semiconductor lasers
Nonlinear oscillator
Description
Summary:In this paper we present numerical and experimental investigations on the synchronization of the instabilities originated by the mutual coupling of two semiconductor lasers in face to face configuration. We have restricted ourselves to the analysis of two lasers with identical parameters and operating at the same frequency. Numerical simulations are based on standard rate equations for each semiconductor laser whereas the mutual injection is modeled by including delayed optical fields. Experiments are performed using almost identical Fabry Perot lasers coupled through the TE component. As soon as the coupling strength is increased we observe fluctuations in the power dynamics that appears synchronized except for a small time lag. This asymmetric operation of the perfectly symmetric system allows to differentiate between leader and laggard lasers. Synchronization properties are studied making use of the synchronization plots and cross-correlation measurements. Extensive investigations of the dependence of the time traces and correlation degree on the coupling strength and current level demonstrate good agreement between numerical and experimental observations.