Semiconductor laser bifurcations

Semiconductor lasers (SLs) have a wide range of applications but a weak optical feedback is enough to destabilize its normal output. These instabilities generate higher intensity or frequency noise which is undesirable for certain applications. By contrast to other commercial lasers (gas and solid state lasers), the dynamical mechanisms causing these instabilities are less understood. Direct experimental observation of the intensity of the laser output vs time is difficult but recent Fourier spectra measurements combined with numerical studies of rate equations have shown that these instabilities are the result of successive bifurcations. We analyze these bifurcations using modern asymptotic techniques. To this end, we take advantage of the natural parameters of the laser equations.