Modeling of multimode laser dynamics by means of delay differential equations

We discuss an approach to the analysis of nonlinear dynamics in multimode semiconductor lasers based on the use of delay differential equations (DDEs) for the electric field envelope and carrier density in nonlinear intracavity media. We consider DDE models of a mode-locked semiconductor laser generating short optical pulses and a multistripe laser array with external feedback. We present the results of numerical simulations of different dynamical regimes in these lasers and discuss asymptotic approaches for the stability analysis of different operation regimes.