Nonlinear Dynamics of 1550-nm VCSELs Subject to Positive Optoelectronic Feedback

We report an experimental investigation on the nonlinear dynamics of a 1550-nm vertical-cavity surface emitting laser subject to positive optoelectronic feedback. A bifurcation diagram of the extrema of output peak series versus the feedback strength is plotted. Various nonlinear dynamical behaviors including regular pulsing, quasiperiodic pulsing, chaotic pulsing, and mode locking (ML) have been experimentally observed. A mapping of dynamical states is presented in the parameter space of bias current and feedback strength, where different states are identified and shown.