Synchronized chaotic mode hopping in DBR lasers with delayed opto-electric feedback

We propose and demonstrate a scheme for generating synchronized chaotic mode hopping in two wavelength-tunable lasers. Chaotic mode hopping resulting in large hops in wavelength is induced by delayed feedback of an electrical signal proportional to the intensity of the laser output which passes through an optical filter. Mode hopping among up to 11 modes was experimentally observed and optical signals in each wavelength band show a different on-off modulation time series. Analysis of the time series indicates high dimensionality. By using a unidirectional coupling method that injects part of the output of one laser into another, we can synchronize the chaotic mode hopping of two separate lasers and obtain synchronized chaotic on-off modulation patterns in multiple corresponding wavelength bands. The robustness of the synchronization with respect to the parameter mismatch and the effects of the coupling strength are investigated. The chaotic mode hopping dynamics and synchronization are well described with a numerical model that includes the characteristics of the laser tuning and the filter transmission. A multiplexed data transmission scheme using chaotic carriers is proposed and experiments demonstrate that multiple messages can be simultaneously recovered when chaos synchronization is achieved.