Enhancing optical-feedback-induced chaotic dynamics in semiconductor ring lasers via optical injection

• Published in: Nonlinear dynamics Vol. 92; no. 2; pp. 315 - 324
• Main Authors: Li, Nianqiang, Nguimdo, R. M., Locquet, A., Citrin, D. S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.04.2018; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Automotive Engineering; Chaos theory; Classical Mechanics; Configurations; Control; Dynamical Systems; Engineering; Engineering Sciences; Feedback; Lasers; Mechanical Engineering; Original Paper; Parameters; Ring lasers; Semiconductor lasers; Signatures; Vibration; Chaos; Optical injection; Time-delay signature; Semiconductor ring laser; Optical feedback
• ISSN: 0924-090X; 1573-269X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11071-018-4057-9

In this paper, we investigate the possibility of using optical injection to efficiently suppress the time-delay (TD) signatures of chaotic signals in a large experimentally accessible parameter range of semiconductor ring lasers (SRLs). We also study how this optical injection can improve the signal bandwidths. The injection signal is obtained from a master SRL with either optical self- or cross-feedback. For optical self-feedback configurations, it is found that the suppression of TD signatures is similar to what has been found in injected Fabry–Perot semiconductor lasers, i.e., narrow range of parameters with respect to the detuning and injection strengths. For cross-feedback configurations, however, the TD signatures can be suppressed in a wide range of parameters; meanwhile, the bandwidths are significantly improved for the same range of parameters. This is particularly useful for the security in chaos-based communications and also for generating random bits with improved properties.