Detailed analysis of coherence collapse in semiconductor lasers

Experimental and theoretical studies of coherence collapse in GaAs/AlGaAs laser diodes with weak optical feedback show two distinct routes to chaos. In each case we observe undamped relaxation oscillations, then external cavity mode beating, and finally coherence collapse. When there is frequency locking between the relaxation oscillations and external cavity modes, a period doubling sequence is followed, otherwise the route to chaos is via quasiperiodicity.<
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