Intensity instabilities of semiconductor lasers under current modulation, external light injection, and delayed feedback

Abstract

We investigate the occurrence of instabilities related to possible transitions to chaos in specific configurations based on semiconductor lasers. Various scenarios, such as period doubling, frequency locking, quasiperiodicity, and intermittency, are observed experimentally as functions of the control parameters. These are, respectively, the current modulation, external light injection, and delayed feedback. The experimental findings are described and discussed on the basis of semiconductor-laser rate equations.